Hypochondriases

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A condition characterized by an excessive preoccupation with health concerns, often leading to unfounded fears of serious illness
2. The persistent belief in having a severe medical condition despite medical reassurance contradicting such notions
3. An ailment marked by undue anxiety about one’s health, frequently resulting in unnecessary medical consultations and tests

Etymology: "Hypochondriases" is the plural of "hypochondriasis," a medical term for an excessive, persistent anxiety about having a serious illness. The body-part root is the surprising part: "hypochondrium" refers to the area just below the ribs on either side of the upper abdomen, and it is from this region that the word takes its start. Ancient physicians believed the spleen and other organs there were the source of melancholy and low spirits, so the anatomy itself was tied to a mood. The word is a New Latin formation, built by putting together "hypochondrium" with the Greek-derived suffix "-iasis," which in medical terms denotes a diseased or abnormal condition. Early modern doctors coined it to name a state they believed arose from disorders in the abdomen. The "-iasis" ending appears in many other medical words, such as "psoriasis."