valetudinary

1 of 2

adjective

val·​e·​tu·​di·​nary ˌva-lə-ˈtü-də-ˈner-ē 

-ˈtyü-

: valetudinarian

valetudinary

2 of 2

noun

plural valetudinaries

: valetudinarian

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin valētūdinārius "incapacitated by ill health, invalid," from valētūdin-, valētūdō "good health, health in general, illness" (from valēre "to have strength, be well" + -tūdin-, -tūdō, suffix forming abstract nouns) + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at wield

Noun

noun derivative of valetudinary entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1665, in the meaning defined above