cachexia

noun Pathology.

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

noun

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

n.

“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.

n.

1. Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility that can occur during a chronic disease.

1. Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.