hypochondria
[ hahy-puh-kon-dree-uh ]
/ ˌhaɪ pəˈkɒn dri ə /
noun
Also hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis
[hahy-poh-kuh n-drahy-uh-sis] /ˌhaɪ poʊ kənˈdraɪ ə sɪs/. Psychiatry.
an excessive preoccupation with one's health, usually focusing on some particular symptom, as cardiac or gastric problems.
excessive worry or talk about one's health.
Origin of hypochondria
1555–65; < Late Latin < Greek, neuter plural of
hypochóndrios pertaining to the upper abdomen (supposed seat of melancholy), equivalent to
hypo-
hypo- +
chóndr(os) ensiform cartilage +
-ios adj. suffix
Words nearby hypochondria
Example sentences from the Web for hypochondriasis
British Dictionary definitions for hypochondriasis
hypochondria
/ (ˌhaɪpəˈkɒndrɪə) /
noun
chronic abnormal anxiety concerning the state of one's health, even in the absence of any evidence of disease on medical examination
Also called: hypochondriasis (ˌhaɪpəʊkɒnˈdraɪəsɪs)
Word Origin for hypochondria
C18: from Late Latin: the abdomen, supposedly the seat of melancholy, from Greek
hupokhondria, from
hupokhondrios of the upper abdomen, from
hypo- +
khondros cartilage
Medical definitions for hypochondriasis (1 of 2)
hypochondriasis
[ hī′pə-kən-drī′ə-sĭs ]
n. pl. hy•po•chon•dri•a•ses (-sēz′)
hypochondria
Medical definitions for hypochondriasis (2 of 2)
hypochondria
[ hī′pə-kŏn′drē-ə ]
n.
The conviction that one is or is likely to become ill, often accompanied by physical symptoms, when illness is neither present nor likely.
hypochondriasis
Scientific definitions for hypochondriasis
hypochondria
[ hī′pə-kŏn′drē-ə ]
A psychiatric disorder characterized by the conviction that one is ill or soon to become ill, often accompanied by physical symptoms, when illness is neither present nor likely.♦ A person with hypochondria is called a hypochondriac.