hypochondriac
pronunciation
How to pronounce hypochondriac in British English:
UK [ˌhaɪpəˈkɒndriæk]
How to pronounce hypochondriac in American English:
US [ˌhaɪpəˈkɑndriæk]
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- Noun:
- a patient with imaginary symptoms and ailments
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- Adjective:
- suffering from hypochondria
Word Origin
- hypochondriac (adj.)
- 1590s, "pertaining to the hypochondria," also "afflicted with melancholy," from French hypocondriaque (16c.), from Medieval Latin hypochondriacus, from Greek hypokhondriakos "pertaining to the upper abdomen," from hypokhondria (see hypochondria). The noun is from 1630s, "melancholy person;" in the modern sense from 1888.
Example
- 1. He has a certain hypochondriac ten-dency to exaggerate his illness .
- 2. Most physician think hypochondriac can 't be cured .
- 3. The guy 's a hypochondriac , remember ?
- 4. You think I 'm a hypochondriac ?
- 5. Suspected heart disease as a hypochondriac , but also a more common mental illness .