as ‧ phyx ‧ i ‧ a /æsˈfɪksiə, əs-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable] formal
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: Modern Latin ; Origin: Greek , 'stopping the flow of blood' , from a- 'not' + sphyzein 'to beat regularly, throb' ]
death caused by not being able to breathe SYN suffocation