asthenic
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characterized by asthenia; weak.
-
(of a physical type) having a slight build or slender body structure.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, or having asthenia; weak
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(in constitutional psychology) referring to a physique characterized by long limbs and a small trunk: claimed to be associated with a schizoid personality See also somatotype
noun
Etymology
Origin of asthenic
1780–90; < Greek asthenikós, equivalent to asthen- ( see asthenia) + -ikos -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a sense, this fear of drama comes off as latter generations’ asthenic corrective to the unrestrained classical cinephilic embrace of robust Hollywood-centric energies.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 2, 2016
Whimsy is asthenic fantasy, a fragile, elusive quality difficult to render but easy to shatter into sentimentality.
From Time Magazine Archive
Straining to keep pace with a reputation that was already greening into myth, Bench hit only 27 home runs, and his batting average tailed off to an asthenic .238.
From Time Magazine Archive
The asthenic Met batters, none of whom finished the regular season above .300, banged out a hearty 23 runs.
From Time Magazine Archive
In fact the asthenic type, in which different parts of the lung are involved but not necessarily confined to or even equivalent to one lobe, is perhaps the most frequent form of pneumonia.
From Disturbances of the Heart by Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas) Osborne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
