inanition

Meaning

Noun

• The act of removing the contents of something; the state of being empty.
• A state of advanced lack of adequate nutrition, food, or water or a physiological inability to utilize them, with resulting weakness.
• A spiritual emptiness or lack of purpose or will to live, akin to the Existentialist Philosophy state of "nausea".

Origin

• From Middle English inanicioun, borrowed from Old French inanition, itself borrowed from Late Latin inānītio, from inānīre, from inānis; see inane.