Marasmus

//məˈɹæz.məs// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A condition of chronic undernourishment especially in children, caused by a diet deficient in calories or the inability to digest protein and presenting as a severe loss of body weight. countable, uncountable

    "Indian children are still among the skinniest and shortest on the planet, but they are taller and plumper than were their parents or grandparents, and the signs of gross hunger, such as marasmus, are now rarely seen in nutritional surveys."

  2. 2
    extreme malnutrition and emaciation (especially in children); can result from inadequate intake of food or from malabsorption or metabolic disorders wordnet

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin marasmus, from Ancient Greek μᾰρᾰσμός (mărăsmós, “withering”, noun).

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: marasmus