marasmus
[muh-raz-muh s]
- malnutrition occurring in infants and young children, caused by insufficient intake of calories or protein and characterized by thinness, dry skin, poor muscle development, and irritability.
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Origin of marasmus
1650–60; < New Latin < Greek marasmós a wasting away, akin to maraínein to weaken, waste away
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for marasmus
Historical Examples
The nation, as it were, sickened in a marasmus of intellectual inbreeding.
Marasmus is a condition in which the ingested food seems to fail to nourish the body and gradual wasting away occurs.
Outlines of Dairy Bacteriology, 8th editionH. L. Russell
Inanition or marasmus is the usual cause of death in uncomplicated cases.
Symptoms of anmia and marasmus, or of chronic exudative peritonitis, or of chronic pleurisy.
As the disease progresses the patient loses flesh and strength, and usually dies in a condition of marasmus.
marasmus
- pathol general emaciation and wasting, esp of infants, thought to be associated with severe malnutrition or impaired utilization of nutrients
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Word Origin
C17: from New Latin, from Greek marasmos, from marainein to waste
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for marasmus
n.
"wasting away of the body," 1650s, Modern Latin, from Greek marasmos "a wasting away, withering, decay," from marainein "to quench, weaken, wither," from PIE root *mer- "to rub away, harm" (see morbid). Maras (n.) evidently in the same sense is attested from mid-15c. Related: Marasmic.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
marasmus
(mə-răz′məs)- Chronic wasting of body tissues, especially in young children, commonly due to prolonged dietary deficiency of protein and calories.athrepsia
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.