A sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and morbidly concerned with his or her health: “She affected to be spunky about her ailments and afflictions, but she was in fact an utterly self-centered valetudinarian” (Louis Auchincloss).
ADJECTIVE:
1. Chronically ailing; sickly. 2. Constantly and morbidly concerned with one's health.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin valtdinrius, from valtd, valtdin-, state of health, from valre, to be strong or well. See wal- in Appendix I.
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