'anorexy' originates from Greek, specifically from 'an-' + 'orexis', where 'an-' meant 'without' and 'orexis' meant 'appetite'.

'anorexy' came into English via Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'anorexia' (from Greek 'anorexis') and exists as a less common variant spelling alongside 'anorexia' in modern English.

Initially it meant 'lack or absence of appetite'; over time the sense remained but usage extended to refer to the clinical condition 'anorexia nervosa' in some contexts.