anorexic
|an-o-rex-ic|
/ˌænəˈrɛksɪk/
without appetite / extremely thin
Etymology
'anorexic' originates from Greek, specifically the element 'an-' meaning 'without' and 'orexis' meaning 'appetite'; the medical noun 'anorexia' (loss of appetite) plus the English adjective-forming suffix '-ic' produced 'anorexic'.
'anorexia' was formed in New/Medical Latin from Greek 'anorexis' and entered English in the 19th century; the adjective 'anorexic' developed in English by attaching '-ic' to the noun 'anorexia'.
Initially, it meant 'loss of appetite' in a general sense, but over time it evolved into a medical term (often as 'anorexia nervosa') and into an adjective describing someone affected by that condition or who is extremely thin.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who has anorexia (an eating disorder characterized by loss of appetite or self-imposed starvation), or someone who is extremely thin because of it.
He was an anorexic who had been hospitalized for treatment.
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Adjective 1
relating to or suffering from anorexia (especially anorexia nervosa); extremely thin or emaciated as a result of lack of appetite or eating.
She became dangerously anorexic after months of dieting.
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Last updated: 2025/08/19 01:51