'atrophy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'atrophia', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'trophe' meant 'nourishment'.

'atrophy' passed into Late Latin as 'atrophia' and then into English (via modern medical Latin) as 'atrophy'; the form and meaning were carried into medical usage in English.

Initially it meant 'lack of nourishment' (literally 'without nourishment'), and over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'wasting away' or 'degeneration' (including figurative decline).