apnoeic
|ap-noe-ic|
/æpˈniːɪk/
without breath
Etymology
'apnoeic' originates from Modern English, specifically the word 'apnoea' plus the adjectival suffix '-ic', where 'apnoea' comes from Greek 'apnoia' (ἀπνοία) and 'a-' meant 'without' and 'pnoē' meant 'breath'.
'apnoeic' changed from the medical noun 'apnoea' (borrowed into New/Modern Latin and English in the 19th century) combined with the suffix '-ic' to form the adjective; the sequence is Greek 'apnoia' → New Latin/Modern Latin 'apnoea' → English 'apnoea' → 'apnoeic'.
Initially it literally meant 'without breath' (from Greek), but over time it evolved to the medical sense 'relating to or characterized by temporary cessation of breathing' used in modern English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who has or is affected by apnoea; (rare) an instance of apnoea.
He was identified as an apnoeic and was fitted with a CPAP device.
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Adjective 1
relating to, characterized by, or affected by apnoea; involving a temporary cessation of breathing.
The patient experienced brief apnoeic episodes during sleep.
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Last updated: 2025/09/18 20:13