hypochondriac

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a patient with imaginary symptoms and ailments
  2. adjective suffering from hypochondria

Etymology

From French hypocondriaque, from Ancient Greek ὑποχονδριακός (hupokhondriakós, “of the region between the ribs and navel”), from ὑποχόνδριος (hupokhóndrios, “the space between the ribs and the navel”), from ὑπό (hupó, “below”) + χόνδρος (khóndros, “cartilage”). See also hypochondrium, hypochondria, and Wikipedia at hypochondriasis § Etymology.

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