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emaciate

 - 4 dictionary results

e⋅ma⋅ci⋅ate

  [i-mey-shee-eyt]
Use emaciate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
to make abnormally lean or thin by a gradual wasting away of flesh.
Origin:
1640–50; < L ēmaciātus, wasted away, equiv. to ē- e- + maciātus, ptp. of maciāre to produce leanness (maci(ēs) leanness + -ātus -ate 1 )
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To emaciate
e·ma·ci·ate   (ĭ-mā'shē-āt')   
tr. & intr.v.   e·ma·ci·at·ed, e·ma·ci·at·ing, e·ma·ci·ates
To make or become extremely thin, especially as a result of starvation.

[Latin ēmaciāre, ēmaciāt- : ē-, ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + maciāre, to make thin; see māk- in Indo-European roots.]
e·ma'ci·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

emaciate 
1646, from L. emaciatus, pp. of emaciare "make lean, waste away," from ex- "out" + macies "leanness," from macer "thin" (see macro-).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ema·ci·ate
Pronunciation: i-'mA-shE-"At
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed; -at·ing
transitivesenses
: to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin emaciate intransitive senses
: to waste away physically
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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