cachexia

[ kuh-kek-see-uh ]
/ kəˈkɛk si ə /

noun Pathology.

general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.
Also ca·chex·y [kuh-kek-see] /kəˈkɛk si/

Origin of cachexia

1535–45; < Late Latin < Greek, equivalent to kak(ós) bad + héx(is) condition ( hek-, variant stem of échein to have + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia

OTHER WORDS FROM cachexia

ca·chec·tic [kuh-kek-tik] /kəˈkɛk tɪk/, ca·chec·ti·cal, ca·chex·ic, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for cachexia

British Dictionary definitions for cachexia

cachexia

cachexy (kəˈkɛksɪ)

/ (kəˈkɛksɪə) /

noun

a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease

Derived forms of cachexia

cachectic (kəˈkɛktɪk), adjective

Word Origin for cachexia

C16: from Late Latin from Greek kakhexia, from kakos bad + hexis condition, habit

Medical definitions for cachexia

cachexia
[ kə-kĕksē-ə ]

n.

Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility that can occur during a chronic disease.

Scientific definitions for cachexia

cachexia
[ kə-kĕksē-ə ]

Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.