cachectic, a.
(kəˈkɛktɪk)
Also 7–8 -ick.
[Ultimately ad. Gr. καχεκτικ-ός in a bad habit of body. Cf. cachexy. Cachectique occurs in F. in 16th c.; mod.L. cachecticus is prob. still earlier.]
Of or pertaining to cachexy; affected with or characterized by cachexy or a bad state of body.
| 1634 T. Johnson tr. Parey's Chirurg. xx. vii. (1678) 461 A melancholick cachectick disposition of the whole body. 1744 Berkeley Siris §94 The good effect of this medicine on cachectic and scorbutic persons. 1861 O. W. Holmes Elsie V. 210 The flat-chested and cachectic pattern which is the classical type of certain excellent young females. |