What is "inanition"

Inanition \In`a*ni"tion\, n. [F. inanition, L. inanitio emptiness, fr. inanire to empty, fr. inanis empty. Cf. Inane.] The condition of being inane; emptiness; lack of fullness, as in the vessels of the body; hence, specifically, exhaustion from lack of food, either from partial or complete starvation, or from a disorder of the digestive apparatus, producing the same result.

Feeble from inanition, inert from weariness.
--Landor.

Repletion and inanition may both do harm in two contrary extremes.
--Burton.

c.1400, from Old French inanition, from Latin inanitionem (nominative inanitio) "emptiness," noun of action from past participle stem of inanire "to empty," from inanis "empty, void, worthless, useless," of uncertain origin.

n. 1 emptiness. 2 (context medicine English) A state of advanced lack of adequate nutrition, food or water, or a physiological inability to utilize them; starvation. 3 (context philosophy English) A spiritual emptiness or lack of purpose or will to live, akin to the existentialist philosophy state of "nausea".

1. n. weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy [syn: lassitude, lethargy]

2. exhaustion resulting from lack of food