'athrepsia' originates from Modern Latin 'athrepsia', ultimately from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀθρέψια' (athrepsia), where the prefix 'a-' meant 'not' or 'without' and the root related to 'threp-' (to nourish).

'athrepsia' entered medical Latin from Ancient Greek 'ἀθρέψια' and was adopted into English medical usage in the 19th century as a rare technical term meaning severe wasting or lack of nourishment.

Initially it meant 'lack of nourishment' or 'failure to thrive' in classical/medical contexts, and over time it has remained a term denoting severe emaciation or wasting, though it is now rare and largely replaced by more common terms like 'cachexia' or 'malnutrition'.