English

Adjective

valetudinary ‎(comparative more valetudinary, superlative most valetudinary)

1. (obsolete) sickly, infirm, valetudinarian
   • 1727, Thomas Carlyle, History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VI. (of XXI.):

     "His Majesty began to become valetudinary; and the hypochondria which tormented him rendered his humor very melancholy.

   • 1887, Edmund Burke, The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. I. (of 12):

     It produces a weak valetudinary state of body, attended by all those horrid disorders, and yet more horrid methods of cure, which are the result of luxury on the one hand, and the weak and ridiculous efforts of human art on the other.

Derived terms

• valetudinariness

Noun

valetudinary ‎(plural valetudinaries)

1. (dated) A sickly, infirm person.