neurotic

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.

• IPA^(key): /n(j)ʊəˈɹɒtɪk/, /n(j)əˈɹɒtɪk/

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• Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

neurotic (not comparable)

1. Affected with a neurosis.
   • 1902, William James, “Lecture I”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. , →OCLC:

     If there were such a thing as inspiration from a higher realm, it might well be that the neurotic temperament would furnish the chief condition of the requisite receptivity.

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.

• psychoneurotic

neurotic (plural neurotics)

1. A person who has a neurosis

• jitterbug, nervous wreck, obsessive, worrywart; see also Thesaurus:worrier

• “neurotic, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2003.

• countrie, unerotic