Inanition - Word of the Day

[Merriam-Webster]( WORD OF THE DAY [May 25, 2017](#none) inanition [Audio pronunciation]( noun | in-uh-NISH-un Definition 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]( Scroll down for more about inanition WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE [Where in the World? A Quiz]( Do you know what languages these words come from? [PLAY NOW]( Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try! [TAKE ME THERE [>]]( Plus: [SEE WHAT LOOKUPS ARE TRENDING NOW! [>]]( Did You Know? Inanition describes a state of suffering from either a literal emptiness (of [sustenance]() or a metaphorical emptiness (of interest or energy), so it should come as no surprise that the word ultimately derives from the same idea in Latin. Inanition, which first appeared in Middle English in the 14th century as in-anisioun, can be traced back to the Latin verb inanire, meaning "to make empty," which in turn comes from inanis (meaning "empty"). Another far more common descendant of inanis is [inane](. The family resemblance is clear: inane is used describe things lacking significance or substance. Examples of INANITION "My friend had no breakfast himself, for it was one of his peculiarities that in his more intense moments he would permit himself no food, and I have known him presume upon his iron strength until he has fainted from pure inanition." — Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder," 1903 "Although she remains largely in the background, Mama is the character apparently most energized by the revolution of 2011, the person who has found purpose and focus, eschewing nostalgia even as the men who surround her have lapsed into [rueful]( inanition." — Claire Messud, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2016 Test Your Vocabulary Unscramble the letters to create a verb that can mean "to become reduced to inanition": IHESLRV. [VIEW THE ANSWER [>]]( ASK THE EDITOR Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'? Language changes [WATCH THE VIDEO NOW [>]]( MORE WORD FUN: [WORD GAMES [>]]( [TRENDING NOW [>]]( [WORDS AT PLAY [>]]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( SHARE: [Facebook][Facebook]( [Twitter][Twitter]( [View this email in a web browser]( You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. [Unsubscribe from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day]( [Manage your subscription settings]( Merriam-Webster, Inc. 47 Federal Street P.O. Box 281 Springfield, MA 01102 [www.merriam-webster.com](