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exsanguine

exsanguine

9.9
Very pale after losing a lot of blood
  • adjective
  • /ɛkˈsæŋɡwɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desangrado
  • Under the harsh lights, her face looked utterly exsanguine and drained of color.

Examples

  • The patient appeared exsanguine after the surgery.

  • His exsanguine complexion worried the doctors.

  • The artist depicted the ghost as an exsanguine figure drifting through the mist.

  • The vampire left his victim exsanguine on the cold stone floor.

  • Under the harsh lights, her face looked utterly exsanguine and drained of color.

  • His exsanguine complexion worried the doctors.

  • The patient appeared exsanguine after the surgery.

Synonyms

bloodless
vsexsanguine
3 5.9

Being very pale and weak from illness or shock

is used for actual lack of blood rather than just pale appearance
exsanguinous
vsexsanguine
  • Specialized
9.9

An animal, person, or tissue that has very little blood and looks very pale

is a broader term for lacking blood beyond only tissues

How Pale

exsanguine
  • Specialized
9.9
pallid
3 7.5
pale
291 1.0
ruddy
15 5.3

Surface Forms

exsanguine positive

Morphology

exsanguine = sanguine (semi-transparent) = ex + sanguine

Formally analyzable as ex- + sanguine, but most learners know 'sanguine' as 'optimistic' rather than 'blood-related', so the meaning 'bloodless' may not be derivable without specialty knowledge.

Etymology

The word exsanguine comes from the parts ex- ('out') and sanguis ('blood'), so it literally means 'without blood'. That's why exsanguine describes someone or something very pale or drained of blood.