moribund

American  

[mawr-uh-buhnd, mor-] / ˈmɔr əˌbʌnd, ˈmɒr- /

adjective

1. in a dying state; near death.

   He arrived at the hospital moribund, and passed away a few hours later.

2. on the verge of extinction or termination.

   moribund species, largely due to human encroachment on their natural habitat.

3. not progressing or advancing; stagnant.

   a moribund political party.

---

moribund British  

/ ˈmɒrɪˌbʌnd /

adjective

1. near death

2. stagnant; without force or vitality

---

Other Word Forms

• moribundity noun
• moribundly adverb
• unmoribund adjective
• unmoribundly adverb

Etymology

Origin of moribund

First recorded in 1715–25; from Latin moribundus “dying,” equivalent to mori- (stem of morī “to die”) + -bundus adjective suffix