[ əs'fɪksɪə ]
■ noun a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death.
Derivatives
~l adjective
~nt adjective &noun
Origin
C18 (in the sense 'stopping of the pulse'): mod. L., from Gk asphuxia , from a- 'without' + sphuxis 'pulse'.