‖ asphyxia
(æsˈfɪksɪə)
[mod.L., a. Gr. ἀσϕυξία, f. ἀ priv. + σϕύξις pulse (whence also asphyxis has occas. been used). See also asphyxy.]
1. lit. Stoppage of the pulse.
| 1706 Phillips, Asphyxia, a Cessation of the Pulse throughout the whole Body; which is the highest degree of Swooning and next to Death. 1731 Bailey, Asphyxia, a Deficiency or Privation of the Pulse in some Cases, where it stops for a Time. 1864 Webster, Asphyxia..applied also to the collapsed state in cholera, with want of pulse. |
2. The condition of suspended animation produced by a deficiency of oxygen in the blood; suffocation. Also fig.
[It indicates a curious infelicity of etymology that the pulse in asphyxiated animals continues to beat long after all signs of respiratory action have ceased. Syd. Soc. Lex. 1881.]
| 1778 T. Brand (title) The Cure of Asphyxis or apparent death by Drowning. 1836 Todd Cycl. Anat. & Phys. 259/1 Asphyxia may be produced by section of the spinal cord. 1858 O. W. Holmes Aut. Breakf. T. xii. 120 Lingering asphyxia of soul. 1872 Huxley Phys. iv. 98 When a man is strangled, drowned, or choked..what is called asphyxia comes on. |