In Latin, “enervat-” meant “weakened (by extraction of the sinews),” with “sinews” referring to what we know as nerves in the body. The word can be used as either a verb, meaning “to reduce or lessen the vigor and strength of something,” or an adjective, describing something that has been weakened. When you feel enervated, something is sapping you of energy, either in body or spirit. Similarly, a stressful situation can enervate you, leaving you feeling anxious and physically exhausted.