Friday, September 18, 2009

Inanition


inanition \ˌi-nə-ˈni-shən\ noun: the quality or state of being empty, as in 1. the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water, 2. the absence or loss of social, moral or intellectual vitality or vigor

Old French inanicion, from Late Latin inanire empty, from inanis void, empty, hollow

You might think that inanition is the noun form of the adjective inane, but according to Merriam-Webster, inane simply means “empty, insubstantial, silly or insipid.” There is no sense necessarily impied of either “exhausted due to lack of sustenance” or “immoral or unintellectual.”

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