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hypochondriasis

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Hypochondriasis
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hy⋅po⋅chon⋅dri⋅a

  [hahy-puh-kon-dree-uh]
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–noun
1. Also, hy⋅po⋅chon⋅dri⋅a⋅sis  [hahy-poh-kuhn-drahy-uh-sis] . Psychiatry. an excessive preoccupation with one's health, usually focusing on some particular symptom, as cardiac or gastric problems.
2. excessive worry or talk about one's health.
Origin:
1555–65; < LL < Gk, neut. pl. of hypochóndrios pertaining to the upper abdomen (supposed seat of melancholy), equiv. to hypo- hypo- + chóndr(os) ensiform cartilage + -ios adj. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Hypochondriasis
Learn More About Hypochondriasis Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Tests
AARP.org/Health-Encyclopedia
hy·po·chon·dri·a   (hī'pə-kŏn'drē-ə)   
n.  

  1. The persistent conviction that one is or is likely to become ill, often involving symptoms when illness is neither present nor likely, and persisting despite reassurance and medical evidence to the contrary. Also called hypochondriasis.

  2. Plural of hypochondrium.


[Late Latin, abdomen, from Greek hupokhondria, pl. of hupokhondrion, abdomen (held to be the seat of melancholy), from neuter of hupokhondrios, under the cartilage of the breastbone : hupo-, hypo- + khondros, cartilage; see ghrendh- in Indo-European roots.]
hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis   (hī'pə-kən-drī'ə-sĭs)   
n.   pl. hy·po·chon·dri·a·ses (-sēz')
See hypochondria.

[hypochondr(ia) + -iasis.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hypochondria 
1839, "illness without a specific cause," earlier (1668) "depression or melancholy without real cause," earlier still (1373) ypocandria "upper abdomen," from L.L. hypochondria "the abdomen," from Gk. hypochondria (neut. pl.), from hypo- "under" + chondros "cartilage" (of the breastbone). Reflecting ancient belief that the viscera of the hypochondria were the seat of melancholy. Hypochondriac (n.) in modern sense first recorded 1888.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hy·po·chon·dria
Pronunciation: "hI-p&-'kän-drE-&
Function: noun
: extreme depression of mind or spirits oftencentered on imaginary physical ailments; specifically : HYPOCHONDRIASIS

Main Entry: hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis
Pronunciation: -'drI-&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural hy·po·chon·dri·a·ses /-"sEz/
: morbid concern about one's health especially when accompanied by delusions of physical disease
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

hypochondria hy·po·chon·dri·a (hī'pə-kŏn'drē-ə)
n.
The neurotic conviction that one is or is likely to become ill, often involving experiences of pain when illness is neither present nor likely. Also called hypochondriasis.

hypochondriasis hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis (hī'pə-kən-drī'ə-sĭs)
n. pl. hy·po·chon·dri·a·ses (-sēz')
See hypochondria.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
hypochondria   (hī'pə-kŏn'drē-ə)  Pronunciation Key 
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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