marasmus

[ muh-raz-muhs ]

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.

marasmus

/ məˈræzməs /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• maˈrasmic, adjective

Other Words From

• ma·rasmic adjective
• ma·rasmoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marasmus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of marasmus¹

C17: from New Latin, from Greek marasmos, from marainein to waste

Example Sentences

Medical records suggest Jesús was suffering from marasmus, a type of malnutritioncaused by a general lack of nutrients.

From The Guardian

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

“It has become much worse in the past year. I have seen about 20 cases of marasmus in the last few months. We are also seeing dozens of cases of extreme weight loss,” said Álvarez.

From The Guardian

Thrombi are usually divided into those from compression, dilatation, traumatism, and marasmus; in all of which groups an abnormal condition of the endothelium is to be met with.

From Project Gutenberg

His disease was called by the physicians marasmus, a wasting away of the vital powers, a sort of consumption, not merely of the lungs, but of the stomach and every thing else.

From Project Gutenberg