cachexia

UK: /kəˈkɛksɪə/ US: (kə kek′sē ə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•chex•i•a  (kə kek′sē ə), n. [Pathol.]

1. Pathology general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.

Also, ca•chex•y  (kə kek′sē) 

• Greek, equivalent. to kak(ós) bad + héx(is) condition (hek-, variant stem of échein to have + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia
• Late Latin
• 1535–45;

ca•chec•tic  (kə kek′tik), ca•chec′ti•cal, ca•chex′ic, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cachexia / kəˈkɛksɪə/, cachexy / kəˈkɛksɪ/ noun

1. a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin from Greek kakhexia, from kakos bad + hexis condition, habit