tic

¹ American  

[tik] / tɪk /

noun

1. Pathology.

   1. a sudden, spasmodic, painless, involuntary muscular contraction, as of the face.

   2. tic douloureux.

2. a persistent or recurrent behavioral trait; personal quirk.

   her distinctive verbal tics.

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-tic ² American  

1. a suffix, equivalent in meaning to -ic, occurring in adjectives of Greek origin (analytic ), used especially in the formation of adjectives from nouns with stems in -sis: hematotic; neurotic.

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tic British  

/ tɪk /

noun

1. spasmodic twitching of a particular group of muscles

2. See tic douloureux

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Etymology

Origin of tic¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from French (of expressive origin)

Origin of -tic²

< Greek -tikos, extracted from adjectives derived with -ikos -ic from agent nouns ending in -tēs; hieratic

Example Sentences

In a statement, Davidson said he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”

From Los Angeles Times

He told Variety: "There was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic."

From BBC

Duane, who was already dizzy from the jumping, was now finding the hare’s quick, clipped way of talking equally unbalancing, not to mention all the twitches and tics that accompanied her speech.

From Literature

"Tourette's can feel spiteful and searches out the most upsetting tic for me personally and for those around me," he explained.

From BBC

Tourette syndrome is a motor disorder characterised by sudden, involuntary and repetitive movements or sounds, known as tics.

From BBC

Related Words

• twitch