atony

[ at-n-ee ]

noun

1. Pathology. lack of tone or energy; muscular weakness, especially in a contractile organ.
2. Phonetics. lack of stress accent.

atony

/ ˈætənɪ /

noun

1. pathol lack of normal tone or tension, as in muscles; abnormal relaxation of a muscle
2. phonetics lack of stress or accent on a syllable or word

Word History and Origins

Origin of atony¹

1685–95; < Late Latin atonia < Greek, derivative of átonos unaccented, languid, literally, toneless. See a- ⁶, tone

Word History and Origins

Origin of atony¹

C17: from Latin atonia, from Greek: tonelessness, from atonos slack, from a- ¹+ tonos tone

Example Sentences

Rounded scybalous masses are common in habitual constipation, and indicate atony of the muscular coat of the intestine.

From Project Gutenberg

His nerve-principle was supposed to produce spasms and atony, either actively or passively.

From Project Gutenberg

Atony: the child does not move; he cannot stand; he cannot sit upright nor execute any movement whatever.

From Project Gutenberg

Atony and hyperactivity may be overcome by appropriate educational remedies which we will now discuss.

From Project Gutenberg

The patient is unable to empty the bladder, and the condition of atony gets increasingly worse.

From Project Gutenberg