atrophy

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀτροφία“a wasting away”
2. Latin · derived fromatrophia
3. French · borrowed fromatrophie
4. English todayatrophy

Borrowed from French atrophie, from Latin atrophia, from Ancient Greek ἀτροφία (atrophía, “a wasting away”), from ἄτροφος (átrophos, “ill-fed, un-nourished”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + τροφή (trophḗ, “nourishment”), from τρέφω (tréphō, “to fatten”). Equivalent to a- + -trophy.

First known use, by meaning

• from early 17th c. A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.
• from early 18th c. To wither or waste away.