aetiolated

Adjective

etiolated (comparative more etiolated, superlative most etiolated)

1. Of a plant or part of a plant: pale and weak because of sunlight deprivation or excessive exposure to sunlight.
   • [T]he external leaves which enjoy the light are perfectly green, while those within, naturally or artificially covered up and involved in darkness, are blanched or etiolated; they are thereby rendered white, soft, delicate, and tender, and lose the taste and flavour of the native plant in its green...1806 August 11, “Extracts from Fourcroy on the Philosophy of Vegetation, Translated and Abridged by a Correspondent”, in The Farmer’s Magazine: A Periodical Work Exclusively Devoted to Agriculture...

   Synonyms:

   etiolized

   Antonyms:

   nonetiolated

2. Of a plant: intentionally grown in the dark.
   • It is a fact well known to gardeners, that plants, when blanched, lose many of their active properties; and dandelion thus prepared, is frequently eaten on the continent in salads; [...] The French eat the young roots, and the etiolated leaves, with thin slices of bread and butter; [...]1831, John Stephenson, James Morss Churchill, “Leontodon taraxacum. Common Dandelion.”, in Medical Botany: Or, Illustrations and Descriptions of the Medicinal Plants of the London, Edinburgh, and...

   Antonyms:

   deetiolated

3. (broadly) Of an animal or person: having an ashen or pale appearance; also, haggard or thin; physically weak.
   • Birds inhabiting desert regions have an etiolated appearance.

   Synonyms:

   emaciated, cadaverous, corpse-like, unburied

4. (figuratively) Lacking in vigour; anemic, feeble.
   • I am concerned about Joe Bloggs, the ordinary bloke on the shop floor. Whatever esoteric phraseology the Government use and whatever etiolated formulae the Government give birth to, they will not persuade me that if Joe Bloggs can not get an increase which he is claiming because he is prevented...1975 July 22, Ian Mikardo, “Attack on Inflation”, in Parliamentary Debates (Hansard): House of Commons Official Report (House of Commons of the United Kingdom), volume 896, London: Her Majesty’s...