Asphyxia
/æsˈfɪk.si.ə/noun
A dangerous condition caused by insufficient oxygen, leading to unconsciousness or death.
Did you know?Asphyxia comes from Greek roots meaning “without pulse,” and the same pulse-word family also gave English the medical term sphygmomanometer, the instrument used to measure blood pressure.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
asphyxia
“a condition of being without pulse or breathing”
Late Latin
Latin
asphyxia
“a medical term for loss of pulse or breathing”
16th Century
French
asphyxie
“suffocation; apparent stoppage of the pulse”
17th Century
English
asphyxie
“suffocation or apparent death from lack of breath”
Modern English
English
asphyxia
“a dangerous lack of oxygen causing collapse or death”
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