marasmus

noun

ma·​ras·​mus mə-ˈraz-məs 

: a condition of chronic undernourishment occurring especially in children and usually caused by a diet deficient in calories and proteins

marasmic

mə-ˈraz-mik 

adjective

Examples of marasmus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Funeral home records show Edith died from marasmus, or severe undernourishment. —Matthias Gafni, The Mercury News, 9 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek marasmos, from marainein to waste away

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

marasmus

noun

ma·​ras·​mus mə-ˈraz-məs 

: severe malnutrition affecting infants and children especially of impoverished regions that is characterized by poor growth, loss of subcutaneous fat, muscle atrophy, apathy, and pronounced weight loss and is usually caused by a diet deficient in calories and proteins but sometimes by disease (as dysentery or giardiasis)