cacoëthes

or cac·o·e·thes

[ kak-oh-ee-theez ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an irresistible urge; mania.

cacoethes

/ ˌkækəʊˈiːθiːz; ˌkækəʊˈɛθɪk /

noun

an uncontrollable urge or desire, esp for something harmful; mania
a cacoethes for smoking

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Derived Forms

cacoethic, adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cacoëthes¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin, from Greek kakóēthes, neuter (used as noun) of kakoḗthēs “malignant,” literally, “of bad character”; caco-, ethos

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cacoëthes¹

C16: from Latin cacoēthes malignant disease, from Greek kakoēthēs of an evil disposition, from kakos caco- + ēthos character

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Example Sentences

It is a mode of paralysis—a cacoëthes tacendi—the one form that malady takes in me.

From Project Gutenberg

The cacoëthes scribendi is a disease common, not to imaginative, but to imitative, minds.

From Project Gutenberg

Cacoëthes is a wicked villain, that wittingly and wilfully prepareth mischief.

From Project Gutenberg

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