marasmus

American  

[muh-raz-muhs] / məˈræz məs /

noun

Pathology.

1. 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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marasmus British  

/ məˈræzməs /

noun

1. pathol general emaciation and wasting, esp of infants, thought to be associated with severe malnutrition or impaired utilization of nutrients

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Other Word Forms

• marasmic adjective
• marasmoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of marasmus

1650–60; < New Latin < Greek marasmós a wasting away, akin to maraínein to weaken, waste away

Example Sentences

The coroner blamed her death on a form of malnutrition called marasmus.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 29, 2023

The daughter of Horatio Nelson Cook and Edith Scooffy Cook, she died of marasmus — a form of severe undernourishment — on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2017

Symptoms normally manifest themselves in one of two ways, known as marasmus and kwashiorkor.

From Economist • Nov. 11, 2010

An inability to do that is the price paid for protection from famine by those predisposed to marasmus.

From Economist • Nov. 11, 2010

He vomited material, sometimes alimentary, sometimes mucus, pus, or blood, and went into the last stage of marasmus.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)