Agoraphobiac

/ˌæɡərəˈfoʊbiak/ noun

Definition

A person who suffers from agoraphobia; someone with an anxiety disorder involving fear of open spaces or public places.

Etymology

From 'agoraphobia' (Greek agora 'marketplace' + phobos 'fear') + '-iac' (suffix denoting a person affected by a condition). An older variant of the modern 'agoraphobic' used as a noun.

Kelly Says

The suffix '-iac' appears in older medical terminology (like 'maniac') to describe people with conditions, but modern English prefers 'agoraphobic' for both noun and adjective use, showing how medical language gradually simplifies over time!

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