nervous disorder
1
4.1
- noun
- /ˈnɜrvəs dɪsˈɔrdər/
- Specialized
:
trastorno nervioso
- We're still the same sleepy little paradise... that big-city shrinks recommend for patients with nervous disorders.
- trauma-related nervous disorder
Examples
-
Have you developed a nervous disorder?
-
I usually talk about nervous disorders.
-
And we all agree that the cramps are being caused by a nervous disorder.
-
"Both Eddie's parents seemed to suffer from some kind of nervous disorder."
Fiction book (1997) -
Doctors now know that he suffers from Parkinson's syndrome, a nervous disorder that can be caused by repeated blows to the head.
Fiction book (1998) -
Doctors have diagnosed her with a nervous disorder that affects her ability to concentrate.
-
He experiences tremors as a result of a nervous disorder that has been difficult to treat.
-
Many people seek therapy for various nervous disorders that can lead to anxiety and stress.
Synonyms
449
4.3
A health condition in which the body or mind do not work normally
8
5.0
A disease that affects the brain, spinal cord or nerves
3
3.9
A health problem that affects the brain, spinal cord, or nerves
How Serious
- Specialized
1
8.5
- Specialized
3
3.9
- Specialized
1
4.1
- Specialized
1
7.7
21
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a medical condition affecting the nervous system' follows directly from combining 'nervous' (relating to nerve tissue) with 'disorder' (a diagnosed condition). This modifier+noun compounding is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern and the noun 'disorder' disambiguates any everyday sense of 'nervous', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Nervous disorder comes from the image of the body's nerves as tiny wires that send signals, so if the nervous wires are 'out of order' or damaged—a disorder—those signals go wrong. That's why the phrase means 'a medical problem' with the nerves that causes unusual movement, feeling, or thinking.