hypochondria
nounUK /ˌhaɪpə(ʊ)ˈkɒndriə/ · US /ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndriə/
Etymology From New Latin hypochondria (the morbid condition so called, supposed to have its seat in the upper part of the abdomen), from hypochondrium (see English hypochondrium for more).
1
Medicine, Sciences A formerly defined psychological disorder characterized by excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness. No longer a current medical diagnosis; see hypochondriasis for more.
- Near-synonym: hypochondriasis
- Such labours as these, if they do not shorten life, are calculated to make it wretched, for hypochondria invariably follows close upon them.1833, Richard Robert Madden, The Infirmities of Genius Illustrated by Referring the Anomalies in the Literary Character to the Habits and Constitutional Peculiarities of Men of Genius, page 96:
- His own temperament appears to have been neither purely sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, nor melancholic [...] not melancholy, since he is entirely free from hypochondria, thinks rapidly, and has an active will.1845, Life of G. W. von Leibnitz. On the basis of the German work of ... G. E. Guhrauer, page 275:
1 more example
- Nux likewise corresponds to hypochondria caused by rich and excessive living. In general, Nux is the best remedy for hypochondria arising from a morbid condition of the abdominal nerves ; after dinner, the patients generally experience a feeling of malaise and langour.1849, Franz Hartmann, Charles Julius Hempel, Theory of acute diseases, and their homoeopathic treatment, page 200:
- Derived terms
- compucondria, cyberchondria, hypochondric
- Related terms
- chondro-, hyperchondria, hypo-, hypochondriac, hypochondriacal, hypochondriasis, hypochondrium