The word "anorexic" is spelled with the letter "e" following the letter "o." This is due to the pronunciation of the word, which is /ænəˈrɛksɪk/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "o" sound in the first syllable is followed by a schwa sound, represented by the symbol "ə." The second syllable has a stressed "e" sound, which is also represented by the symbol "ɛ" in IPA. This spelling accurately represents the pronunciation of the word and helps to avoid confusion with similar words like "anoxic" or "anorexicity."
Anorexic is an adjective that describes a person suffering from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. This term can also be used as a noun to refer to an individual who is afflicted by anorexia nervosa.
Anorexic individuals typically exhibit an extremely restrictive and obsessive attitude towards food, leading to self-imposed starvation and significant weight loss. They may have an altered perception of their body image, perceiving themselves as overweight even when objectively underweight. Striving for thinness becomes the central focus of their lives, often at the expense of their physical and mental well-being. Common symptoms associated with anorexia include, but are not limited to, severe weight loss, compulsive exercise, excessive calorie counting, rigid dietary restrictions, and frequent body checking.
The condition of being anorexic can have profound negative effects on a person's health, including malnutrition, organ damage, hormonal imbalances, weakened immune system, and psychological distress. It is crucial for anorexic individuals to seek professional help and treatment, as the disorder can be life-threatening if left untreated.
In a more general sense, "anorexic" can also be used figuratively to describe any situation, object, or entity that is exceptionally lacking or lacking to an extreme degree, such as an anorexic financial year with extremely low profits or an anorexic department with inadequate staff.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "anorexic" is derived from the medical term "anorexia nervosa", which dates back to the late 19th century. The term was coined by British physician Sir William Gull in 1873, who used it to describe a condition characterized by the loss of appetite and extreme weight loss seen in some young women.
The word "anorexia" itself is of Greek origin, derived from the combination of the Greek prefix "an-" meaning "without" or "lack of", and "orexis" meaning "appetite". Therefore, "anorexia" can be translated to "lack of appetite".
Over time, the term "anorexic" came to be used as an adjective to describe a person suffering from anorexia nervosa. It became more widely known and used to describe the condition beyond medical and scientific circles.