dyspeptic

First attested in 1694. From Ancient Greek δύσπεπτος (dúspeptos, “difficult to digest”), from δυσ- (dus-, “bad”) +‎ πέπτω (péptō, “I digest”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dɪsˈpɛp.tɪk/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ɛptɪk

dyspeptic (comparative more dyspeptic, superlative most dyspeptic)

1. (pathology, not comparable) Of, relating to, or having dyspepsia or indigestion.
   • 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, pages 272–273:

     ...but Lady Anne could not be deceived—in five years' time he would become dyspeptic, be surrounded by physicians, consigned to all the Badens in Germany, and think much more of a renovating draught than a beautiful young wife.

2. (figuratively, comparable) Irritable or morose.

   Synonyms: bad-tempered, bilious, irritable, morose

   • 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 23:

     He was a sallow, dyspeptic man, with a premature shock of grey hair, attached to the stage as an occupation but not a vocation. His only passion was gambling on the race-course, which was attended with perpetual bad luck, though that appeared to act as a stimulus rather than to dampen his fervour.

   • 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty […], London: Picador, →ISBN:

     Sir Maurice made a rough, dyspeptic sound, as if chewing a mint.

dyspeptic (plural dyspeptics)

1. A dyspeptic person.
   • 1951 February, Forrest H. Howard, “The Physiologic Position for Delivery”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 2, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 98:

     Medical management of peptic ulcers is employed along with psychotherapy to greater advantage than the multitude of operations employed twenty years ago for the unfortunate dyspeptic.

   • 1961, Xavier Herbert, Soldiers' Women, Netley, SA: Fontana Books, published 1978, page 175:

     There is, for example, the hamburg-steak, of which the alliaceousness can seduce all but saints and the worst of dyspeptics.

• dyspepsia
• dyspeptically
• peptic