7 definitions found for cacoethes

Cacoethes CACOETHES, n.
1. A bad custom or habit; a bad disposition.
2. In medicine, an incurable ulcer.

cacoethes n 1: an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action [syn: mania, passion, cacoethes]

cacoethes "itch for doing something," 1563, from L., from Gk. kakoethes "ill-habit," from kakos "bad" + ethe- "disposition, character." Most famously, in Juvenal's insanabile scribendi cacoethes "incurable passion for writing."

cacoethes
n. an urge to do something inadvisable.
Etymology: L f. Gk kakoethes neut. adj. f. kakos bad + ethos disposition

cacoethes n. an urge to do something inadvisable. [L f. Gk kakoethes neut. adj. f. kakos bad + ethos disposition]

Cacoethes Cac`o*["e]"thes, n. [L., fr. Gr. ???????? of ill habits, ?? ???????? an ill habit; ? bad + ? habit] 1. A bad custom or habit; an insatiable desire; as, caco["e]thes scribendi, ``The itch for writing''. --Addison. 2. (Med.) A bad quality or disposition in a disease; an incurable ulcer.

cacoethes n. [L.] 1. Bad habit, bad custom, diseased propensity. 2. (Med.) Incurable ulcer.