First published 1900; not yet revised

inanitionnoun

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency

Quotations

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Factsheet

What does the noun inanition mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun inanition. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the noun inanition?

About 0.1occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	0.36
1760	0.37
1770	0.35
1780	0.33
1790	0.35
1800	0.36
1810	0.32
1820	0.3
1830	0.31
1840	0.35
1850	0.4
1860	0.43
1870	0.48
1880	0.53
1890	0.54
1900	0.52
1910	0.48
1920	0.45
1930	0.41
1940	0.34
1950	0.26
1960	0.2
1970	0.16
1980	0.12
1990	0.1
2000	0.078
2010	0.062

See frequency

How is the noun inanition pronounced?

British English

/ɪnəˈnɪʃən/

See pronunciation

Where does the noun inanition come from?

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun inanition is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for inanition is from around 1400, in Lanfranc's Cirurgie.

inanition is a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Latin inānītiōn-em.

See etymology

Nearby entries

inanimated, adj.1646–1826
inanimated, adj.1689
inanimately, adv.1876–
inanimateness, n.1654–
inanimating, adj.1755
inanimation, n.¹a1631–47
inanimation, n.²1784–
inanite, v.a1598–99
inanitiate, v.
inanitiation, n.1853–
inanition, n.c1400–
inanity, n.1603–
inantherate, adj.1866–
inantheriferous, adj.1855–
inantidotal, adj.1639
in antis, adj.c1720–
inanulate, v.1592
inapathy, n.a1846–
inapertous, adj.1866–
inapostate, adj.1648
inapparation, n.1623

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Pronunciation

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Frequency

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Entry history for inanition, n.

inanition, n. was first published in 1900; not yet revised.

inanition, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into inanition, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1900)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View inanition in OED Second Edition

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Chicago

Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .

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MLA9

“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .

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Citation details

Factsheet for inanition, n.

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Nearby entries

inanimated, adj.1646–1826
inanimated, adj.1689
inanimately, adv.1876–
inanimateness, n.1654–
inanimating, adj.1755
inanimation, n.¹a1631–47
inanimation, n.²1784–
inanite, v.a1598–99
inanitiate, v.
inanitiation, n.1853–
inanition, n.c1400–
inanity, n.1603–
inantherate, adj.1866–
inantheriferous, adj.1855–
inantidotal, adj.1639
in antis, adj.c1720–
inanulate, v.1592
inapathy, n.a1846–
inapertous, adj.1866–
inapostate, adj.1648
inapparation, n.1623

Browse more nearby entries