Hypochondriac

Hypochondriac
A person who has hypochondriasis, a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations (such as sweating) or minor abnormalities (such as minor aches and pains) as portending problems of major medical moment. Reassurance by physicians and others only serves to increase the hypochondriac's persistent anxiety about their health. The hypochondrium is the anatomic area of the upper abdomen just below (Greek "hypo" meaning "below") the cartilage (Greek "chondros" meaning "cartilage") of the ribs. Hypochondriasis was thought by the ancients to be due to disturbed function of the spleen and other organs in the upper abdomen.
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1. A person with a somatic overconcern, including morbid attention to the details of bodily functioning and exaggeration of any symptoms no matter how insignificant. 2. A person manifesting hypochondriasis. 3. Beneath the ribs; relating to the hypochondrium.

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hy·po·chon·dri·ac -drē-.ak adj
1) HYPOCHONDRIACAL
2 a) situated below the costal cartilages
b) of, relating to, or being the two abdominal regions lying on either side of the epigastric region and above the lumbar regions
hypochondriac n an individual affected with hypochondria or hypochondriasis <a person can be said to be a \hypochondriac when his or her preoccupation with health or disease is so intense that it disrupts normal living habits (People)>

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hy·po·chon·dri·ac (hi″po-konґdre-ak) 1. pertaining to the hypochondrium. 2. pertaining to hypochondriasis. 3. a person affected with hypochondriasis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Hypochondriac — Hy po*chon dri*ac, a. [Gr. ? affocated in the hypochondrium: cf. F. hypocondriaque, formerly spelt hypochondriaque.] 1. Of or pertaining to hypochondria, or the hypochondriac regions. [1913 Webster] 2. Affected, characterized, or produced, by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hypochondriac — Hy po*chon dri*ac, n. A person affected with hypochondria. [1913 Webster] He had become an incurable hypochondriac. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hypochondriac — [adj] neurotic health obsessed, hypochondriacal, hypochondric, imagining, preoccupied with health, valetudinarian; concept 403 hypochondriac [n] neurotic hypochrondriast, valetudinarian; concept 316 …   New thesaurus

  • hypochondriac — (adj.) 1590s, pertaining to the hypochondria, also afflicted with melancholy, from Fr. hypocondriaque (16c.), from M.L. hypochondriacus, from Gk. hypokhondriakos pertaining to the upper abdomen, from hypokhondria (see HYPOCHONDRIA (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • hypochondriac — *melancholic, melancholy, atrabilious …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • hypochondriac — ► NOUN ▪ a person who is abnormally anxious about their health. ► ADJECTIVE (also hypochondriacal) ▪ related to or affected by hypochondria …   English terms dictionary

  • hypochondriac — [hī΄pə kän′drē ak΄] adj. [Fr hypocondriaque < Gr hypochondriacus] 1. designating or of the region of the hypochondrium 2. of or having hypochondria n. a person who has hypochondria hypochondriacal [hī΄pəkän drī′ə kəl; kī΄pəkəndrī′ə kə l] adj.… …   English World dictionary

  • hypochondriac — UK [ˌhaɪpəʊˈkɒndrɪæk] / US [ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndrɪˌæk] noun [countable] Word forms hypochondriac : singular hypochondriac plural hypochondriacs a person who worries a lot about their health and thinks that they are ill when they are not …   English dictionary

  • hypochondriac — hy|po|chon|dri|ac [ˌhaıpəˈkɔndriæk US ˈka:n ] n someone who always worries about their health and thinks they may be ill, even when they are really not ill >hypochondriac adj …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hypochondriac — [[t]ha͟ɪpəkɒ̱ndriæk[/t]] hypochondriacs N COUNT A hypochondriac is a person who continually worries about their health, although there is nothing physically wrong with them …   English dictionary

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