Wiktionary

neurotic

See also: neuròtic

English

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Etymology

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Formed of neuro- (“of nerves or the nervous system”) +‎ -otic (“having abnormal condition”). The initial element, in turn, is from Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neûron, “nerve”). Attested from the 17th century. Compare French névrotique.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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neurotic (not comparable)

  1. Affected with a neurosis.
  2. (informal) Overly anxious.
    He is getting neurotic about time-keeping.
    • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VI, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
      “I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, the worn-out, passionless men, […], the speed-mad fugitives from the furies of ennui, the neurotic victims of mental cirrhosis, […]!”
    • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter VIII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
      “You did come down a wallop, didn't you? How art thou fallen from heaven, oh Lucifer, son of the morning, I said to myself. You're so terribly neurotic, Bertie. You must try to be less jumpy. What you need is a good nerve tonic.”
  3. (medicine) Useful in disorders of, or affecting, the nerves.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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neurotic (plural neurotics)

  1. A person who has a neurosis

Synonyms

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Translations

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References

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Anagrams

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