cacothymia

English

Etymology

caco- +‎ -thymia From Ancient Greek κακός (kakós, “bad”) + θύμος (thúmos, “warty excresence like a thyme bud; the thymus gland”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kakəʊˈθʌɪmɪə/

Noun

cacothymia (plural cacothymias)

1. An unbalanced state of mind; a mental or glandular disorder as from a malfunctioning thymus gland.
   • 1972, Patrick O'Brian, Post Captain:

     ‘This peevish attention to cleanliness, Jack, this busy preoccupation with dirt,’ said Stephen, shaking his head at the fire, ‘has something of the Brahminical superstition about it. It is not very far removed from nastiness, Jack – from cacothymia.’