cadaverous

[ kuh-dav-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. of or like a corpse.
2. pale; ghastly.
3. haggard and thin.

cadaverous

/ kəˈdævərəs /

adjective

1. of or like a corpse, esp in being deathly pale; ghastly
2. thin and haggard; gaunt

Derived Forms

• caˈdaverously, adverb
• caˈdaverousness, noun

Other Words From

• ca·daver·ous·ly adverb
• ca·daver·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadaverous¹

First recorded in 1620–30, cadaverous is from the Latin word cadāverōsus like a corpse. See cadaver, -ous

Example Sentences

A lean, cadaverous boy from along the mountain, a born enemy of the lads of the village, had dared me.

From Project Gutenberg

Caroline's first child is a pale, cadaverous little girl that will not live.

From Project Gutenberg

He had a particularly imperturbable butler with a cadaverous sad face and an eye of rigid disapproval.

From Project Gutenberg

The cadaverous man in the blue jacket turned to the man in the black garment of similar cut.

From Project Gutenberg

"Capitalistic dictatorships, he means," the cadaverous man in the blue jacket explained.

From Project Gutenberg