anal-retentive

See also: anal retentive

English

Etymology

From anal +‎ retentive. First use appears c. 1936 in the writings of Marjorie Brierley.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Adjective

anal-retentive (comparative more anal-retentive, superlative most anal-retentive)

  1. (psychology, Freudian) Preoccupied with achieving perfection, order and control and with collecting, possessing, and retaining objects.
    Coordinate term: anal-expulsive
  2. (by extension) Overly obsessive concerning small details.

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Further reading

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