anemic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   affected by or relating to anemia, a deficiency of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin

   The patient felt constantly tired because she was anemic.

2. 2
   adj

   figuratively: weak, colorless, or lacking energy and effectiveness

   The committee produced an anemic response to the urgent problem.

From anemia + -ic. Anemia was formed in modern Latin from Greek anaimia ('lack of blood'), combining an- ('without') + haima ('blood'). Anemic is the standard American spelling; anaemic preserves the ae of the corresponding British spelling.

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