exanimate

[eg-zan-uh-mit, -meyt, ek-san-]

adjective

1. inanimate or lifeless.

2. spiritless; disheartened.

exanimate

/ ɪɡˈzænɪmɪt, -ˌmeɪt /

adjective

1. rare,  lacking life; inanimate

Other Word Forms

• exanimation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exanimate¹

1525–35; < Latin exanimātus (past participle of exanimāre to deprive of life), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + anim ( a ) life, spirit + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exanimate¹

C16: from Latin exanimāre to deprive of air, kill, from anima breath, spirit

Example Sentences

A city agen, But peopled by pale mechanical men, With workhouses filled, and prisons, and marts, And faces that spake exanimate hearts.

From Project Gutenberg

So long as I do not exanimate you with my letters, I remain content.

From Project Gutenberg

Silence on the bier, While I call God—call God!—So let thy mouth Be heir to those who are now exanimate.

From Project Gutenberg

The frozen lash was soon severed and the two exanimate bodies lifted in eager hands.

From Project Gutenberg

All along the wan stretch of Cheyne Walk the thin trees stood exanimate, with not a breath of wind to stir the snow that pied their soot-blackened branches.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• old 
• once 
• past 
• previous 
• sometime