Definition
An irresistible urge or desire to do something, often compulsive and difficult to resist. The word typically describes an unhealthy obsession or habit that someone cannot help but indulge in, especially writing or talking.
Example Usage
He suffered from a cacoethes for collecting vintage typewriters, despite having no room left in his apartment.
Origin
From Latin cacoethes, derived from Greek kakos (bad) and ethos (habit), first appearing in English medical texts in the 17th century.
Fun Fact
The term was particularly popular among Victorian writers to describe compulsive writing habits, and Juvenal used it in ancient Rome to describe an irresistible urge to write.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “cacoethes” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator