a. Also 7–8 -ick. [Ultimately ad. Gr. καχεκτικ-ός in a bad habit of body. Cf. CACHEXY. Cachectique occurs in F. in 16th c.; mod.L. cachecticus is prob. still earlier.] Of or pertaining to cachexy; affected with or characterized by cachexy or a bad state of body.
1634. T. Johnson, trans. Parey’s Chirurg., XX. vii. (1678), 461. A melancholick cachectick disposition of the whole body.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 94. The good effect of this medicine on cachectic and scorbutic persons.
1861. O. W. Holmes, Elsie V., 210. The flat-chested and cachectic pattern which is the classical type of certain excellent young females.
