cacoëthes

or cac·o·e·thes

[ kak-oh-ee-theez ]

noun

1. an irresistible urge; mania.

cacoethes

/ ˌkækəʊˈiːθiːz; ˌkækəʊˈɛθɪk /

noun

1. an uncontrollable urge or desire, esp for something harmful; mania

   a cacoethes for smoking

Derived Forms

• cacoethic, adjective

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

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

Example Sentences

The conditions just now are exceptionally favourable--that is, a cacoëthes scribendi has coincided with abundance of matter to write about, but the organs of the great external world naturally provide a model for the writer.

From Project Gutenberg

The unprecedented prices obtained for the really excellent collection of Mr. Wolfe, in Christmas week of 1863, seemed to have inoculated art collectors and dealers with what may be called a cacoethes vendendi, and until far into the succeeding summer the picture auctioneers were called upon to knock down dozens of galleries of "private gentlemen about to leave the country," varying in merit from respectable to positively bad.

From Project Gutenberg

But my physician informs me that I have got the "cacoethes scribendi," which he says is as bad as the small-pox, toothache, and yellow fever.

From Project Gutenberg

One of my sisters, Girolama, a girl devoted to reading, writing, and translating from the French—for she too was bitten with our family cacoethes—spoke like a sibyl, gravely and eloquently, on these painful topics.

From Project Gutenberg

Cacoethes, kak-o-ē′thēz, n. an obstinate habit or disposition.

From Project Gutenberg