asphyxied
|as-phyx-ied|
🇺🇸
/əˈsfɪk.si.eɪt/
🇬🇧
/əˈsfɪk.sɪ.eɪt/
(asphyxiate)
lack of oxygen
Etymology
'asphyxiate' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'asphuxia', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'sphuxia' meant 'pulse' or 'suffocation'.
'asphyxiate' changed from the Greek word 'asphuxía' into Late Latin 'asphyxia' and then into the modern English verb 'asphyxiate'.
Initially, it meant 'without pulse' (literally), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to deprive of oxygen or cause to stop breathing'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'asphyxiate' (to cause someone to stop breathing or to deprive of oxygen).
The prisoner was asphyxied when the fumes filled the cell.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/31 11:08