semistarvation

[ sem-ee-stahr-vey-shuhn, sem-ahy- ]

noun

1. the state of being nearly starved.

Word History and Origins

Origin of semistarvation¹

First recorded in 1850–55; semi- + starvation

Example Sentences

Trying to live on a semistarvation diet of 500 calories a day—to say nothing of the unregulated supplements—puts her at risk of malnutrition, muscle loss, and cardiac issues.

From Slate

Before I could receive a permanent appointment I would have to take a physical examination and the weight requirement was one hundred and twenty-five pounds and I—with my long years of semistarvation—barely tipped the scales at a hundred and ten.

From Literature

Like Gauguin, he abruptly quits all that for Paris, semistarvation and oil painting.

From Time Magazine Archive

Whenever starvation supervenes, and the usual hospital liquid diet is really semistarvation, the bacteria normally present in the bowel increase enormously and produce large amounts of flatus.

From Time Magazine Archive

Longstanding, chronic diseases of important internal organs, leading to emaciation and weakness, or a prolonged semistarvation in winter may be sufficient cause.

From Project Gutenberg