Inanition

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inanition \In`a*ni"tion\, n. [F. inanition, L. inanitio
     emptiness, fr. inanire to empty, fr. inanis empty. Cf.
     {Inane}.]
     The condition of being inane; emptiness; lack of fullness, as
     in the vessels of the body; hence, specifically, exhaustion
     from lack of food, either from partial or complete


     starvation, or from a disorder of the digestive apparatus,
     producing the same result.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Feeble from inanition, inert from weariness. --Landor.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Repletion and inanition may both do harm in two
           contrary extremes.                       --Burton.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  inanition
       n 1: weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy [syn:
             {lassitude}, {lethargy}]
       2: exhaustion resulting from lack of food