cadaverous

the word 'cadaverous' is built directly upon the latin noun 'cadaver', which itself is thought to derive from the latin verb 'cadere', meaning 'to fall'. this connection evokes the image of a fallen body, a casualty. the suffix '-ous', of latin origin, is used to form adjectives meaning 'possessing the qualities of'. therefore, the literal construction yields 'characterized by or full of the qualities of a corpse'. over time, this evolved into the modern, specific sense of describing a living person whose gaunt, pallid, or emaciated appearance unnervingly resembles that of a dead body.

Structure: cadaver (corpse) + ous (adjective suffix) cadaver (from latin 'cadaver', meaning 'corpse, dead body'); ous (english adjective-forming suffix, from latin '-osus', meaning 'full of, characterized by')