moribund
UK: ˈmɒr.ɪ.bʌnd | US: ˈmɔːr.ɪ.bʌnd
adj. 1. (of a person, institution, or idea) at the point of death or decline; nearing extinction.
adj. 2. lacking vitality or vigor; stagnant.
mori<die> + bund<inclined to>
- mori: From Latin mori (to die), present in words like mortal and moribund.
- bund: Derived from Latin -bundus (a suffix indicating tendency or inclination), related to -bound in English (e.g., homebound).
Etymology Origin:
The word moribund entered English in the early 18th century from Latin moribundus, combining mori (to die) and -bundus (tending to). It originally described someone actively dying but later broadened to describe institutions or ideas in decline. The suffix -bund is rare in modern English but retains its sense of "leaning toward" a state (here, death).
The moribund patient refused further treatment.
The company’s moribund policies led to its eventual bankruptcy.
Critics called the art movement moribund, lacking fresh ideas.
The moribund traditions of the village were preserved only in museums.
His moribund enthusiasm for the project worried the team.