bibliomania

noun

bib·​lio·​ma·​nia ˌbi-blē-ə-ˈmā-nē-ə How to pronounce bibliomania (audio)
-nyə
: extreme preoccupation with collecting books
bibliomaniac noun or adjective
bibliomaniacal adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French bibliomanie, from biblio- biblio- + -manie -mania

Note: Coinage of bibliomanie has been attributed to the French physician and man of letters Guy Patin (1601-72). The word is used several times in Patin's correspondence, perhaps earliest in a letter of December 20, 1652 (see Correspondance complète et autres écrits de Guy Patin, online at biusante.parisdecartes.fr).

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bibliomania was in 1734

Dictionary Entries Near bibliomania

Cite this Entry

“Bibliomania.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliomania. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

bibliomania

noun
bib·​lio·​ma·​nia ˌbib-lē-ə-ˈmā-nē-ə, -nyə How to pronounce bibliomania (audio)
: extreme preoccupation with collecting books
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