Exsanguinous

/ɛkˈsæŋɡwɪnəs/ adjective

Definition

Lacking blood or having very little blood; appearing pale or drained of vital force.

Etymology

From Latin 'exsanguinous' combining 'ex-' (out) and 'sanguinous' (relating to blood, from 'sanguis'). The term evolved in medical and literary contexts to describe conditions of bloodlessness or extreme pallor.

Kelly Says

This word was favored by Victorian Gothic writers to describe vampires and the undead—creatures literally drained of blood. It's a more dramatic cousin of 'anemic,' carrying a sense of supernatural depletion rather than just medical deficiency.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.