cadaverous

Advancedzipf 1.67

Pronunciation

/kəˈdævərəs/(kuh-DAV-uh-rus)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

尸体般苍白的；面色惨白的

Definition

Resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony.

Word family

  • cadaver/kəˈdævə/(n)尸体

Collocations

  • cadaverous face
  • cadaverous appearance
  • cadaverous complexion
  • cadaverous figure

Examples

  1. 1.After months of illness, his cadaverous appearance shocked old friends who hadn't seen him. (corpse-like)
  2. 2.The cadaverous stranger in the black coat looked as though he hadn't eaten in weeks. (gaunt, deathly pale)

Synonyms

  • gaunt/ɡɔːnt/— lean and haggard
  • emaciated/ɪˈmeɪʃieɪtɪd/— abnormally thin
  • pallid/ˈpælɪd/— pale, unhealthy

Etymology

from Latin "cadaverosus" — "cadaver" = corpse — "cadere" = to fall — looking like a fallen body