Alienist Definition

ālyə-nĭst, ālē-ə-
noun
A physician who evaluates the competence of defendants to stand trial.
American Heritage

Psychiatrist, esp. one who testifies in a court of law.

Webster's New World

An expert in mental illness, especially with reference to legal ramifications.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Alienist

Noun

Singular:
alienist
Plural:
alienists

Origin of Alienist

  • Obsolete French aliéniste psychiatrist obsolete French aliéné mentally ill (from past participle of aliéner to estrange, make hostile, deprive of reason) (from Old French) (from Latin aliēnāre to deprive of reason alienate) French -iste -ist (from Old French –ist)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French aliéniste, from aliéné, for insane

    From Wiktionary

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