The Greek adverb anaxiōs (G371) means "in an unworthy manner" or "unworthily." It appears once in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 11:27: "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."
This is the adverbial form of anaxios (G370) — not describing a person's standing before God, but the manner in which they approach the Lord's Table.
Paul's warning against receiving Communion anaxiōs has generated centuries of theological reflection. The key is that he is describing a manner of participation — "without discerning the body" (v.29) — not a moral standard of worthiness that would exclude all sinners (which would exclude everyone).
The Corinthians were treating the Lord's Supper as an ordinary meal, with the wealthy eating plentifully while the poor went hungry (1 Corinthians 11:20-22). This was anaxiōs: participating in the memorial of Christ's self-giving while practicing the opposite of what it signified. The remedy is not to abstain but to "examine yourselves" (v.28) — to come with genuine faith and covenant consciousness. The Table of the Lord demands our full attention and love.