[a. F. atrophie, ad. L. atrophia, Gr. ἀτροφία, n. of state f. ἄτροφος ill-fed, not nourished, f. ἀ priv. + τροφή nourishment.]
1. A wasting away of the body, or any part of it, through imperfect nourishment; emaciation.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, viii. 189. Which … bringeth the body into a deformed Atrophie or consumption.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 486. Moon-struck madness, pining atrophy.
1862. Trench, Mirac., xix. 323. A partial atrophy, showing itself in a gradual wasting of the size of the limb.
2. fig.
1653. Jer. Taylor, Serm. Year, Ded. We … fear the people will fall to an Atrophy, then to a loathing of holy food.
1782. J. Trumbull, M‘Fingal, IV. (1795), 102. By fatal atrophy of purse.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 315. for the Scepticism … is … a chronic atrophy and disease of the whole soul.
