Morbid

Morbid

Adjective · /ˈmɔː.bɪd/

Definition

Having or expressing an abnormal or unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease; relating to or characteristic of disease; (in medicine) relating to or denoting a diseased condition.

Origin

From Latin morbidus (diseased, sickly), from morbus (disease, sickness), from mori (to die). The same mori root gives mortal, mortality, mortify, and immortal. Morbid entered English in the 17th century with the medical meaning of relating to disease. The psychological sense — an unhealthy interest in disturbing or unpleasant things — developed later. The phrase morbid curiosity being particularly established in English to describe the fascination with death, disaster, or dark subjects that many people recognise in themselves.