Emaciated
Meaning
Extremely thin and weak, especially from illness or lack of food.
Origin
The word "emaciated" has a straightforward, yet evocative, origin rooted deeply in Latin. It comes from the Latin verb "emaciare," which literally meant "to make lean" or "to waste away." This verb itself was formed from "e-" (meaning "out" or "thoroughly") and "maciare" (meaning "to make lean" or "to make thin"). Imagine an ancient observer noting someone severely weakened and thinned by disease or starvation. They would have described this stark physical state directly, the word "emaciated" capturing the essence of being thoroughly reduced, almost stripped bare, of flesh. Over centuries, this powerful Latin term made its way into English, retaining its core, visceral meaning and becoming the precise, often grim, descriptor we use today for extreme thinness caused by suffering.
Examples
- The stray dog was so emaciated that its ribs showed clearly through its matted fur.
- After weeks lost in the wilderness, the hiker returned looking utterly emaciated.