noun Pathology.
- general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.
noun
- a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease
1630s, from Latinized form of Greek kakhektikos “in a bad habit of body” (see cachexia).
“bad general state of health,” 1540s, from Latinized form of Greek kakhexia “bad habits,” from kakos “bad” (see caco-) + -exia, related to exis “habit or state,” from exein “to have, be in a condition,” from PIE root *segh- “to hold, hold in one’s power, to have” (see scheme (n.)). Related: cachexic.
adj.
- Affected by or relating to cachexia.
n.
- Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility that can occur during a chronic disease.
- Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.