Anemic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈniː.mɪk/

Definitions

1. Lacking vitality, strength, or substance; weak and deficient in quality or effectiveness
2. Having a blood condition marked by a lower amount of red cells or hemoglobin than normal ; showing a deficiency in vigor, power, or impact
3. Characterized by an insufficient concentration of oxygen-carrying components in the blood ; appearing weak, dull, or powerless in performance or character

Etymology: "Anemic" is built from "anemia" plus the suffix "-ic," which English took from Latin "-icus" by way of Old French and Middle English. The suffix itself is ordinary: it turns a noun into an adjective meaning "relating to" or "having the character of," as in "public" or "tragic." So the adjective simply means "relating to anemia." The noun it rests on, "anemia," is the more telling part of the story. It comes from Greek "anaimia," formed from "an-," meaning "without," and "haima," meaning "blood." Literally, it describes a condition of being without blood, or having too little of it. That is exactly the medical sense the word still carries. The figurative sense, "showing a deficiency in vigor, power, or impact," grew from the medical one. A person who looks pale and weak was once described as anemic, and the description was then extended to weak arguments, dull writing, or a lukewarm response, anything that seems to lack vital force.

Synonyms: weak, feeble, pale, lackluster, insipid

Antonyms: strong, healthy, vibrant, robust, dynamic