cacoethes
pronunciation
How to pronounce cacoethes in British English:
UK [ˌkækəʊ'i:θi:z]
How to pronounce cacoethes in American English:
US [ˌkækoʊ'iθiz]
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- Noun:
- an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
Word Origin
- cacoethes (n.)
- "itch for doing something," 1560s, from Latinized form of Greek kakoethes "ill-habit, wickedness, itch for doing (something)," from kakos "bad" (see caco-) + ethe- "disposition, character" (see ethos). Most famously, in Juvenal's insanabile scribendi cacoethes "incurable passion for writing."