atonic

American  

[uh-ton-ik, ey-ton-] / əˈtɒn ɪk, eɪˈtɒn- /

adjective

1. Phonetics.

   1. unaccented.

   2. Obsolete. voiceless.

2. Pathology. characterized by atony.

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noun

1. Grammar. an unaccented word, syllable, or sound.

atonic British  

/ ˌeɪtəʊ-, æ-, eɪˈtɒnɪk, ˌætəˈnɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (of a syllable, word, etc) carrying no stress; unaccented

2. pathol lacking body or muscle tone

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noun

1. an unaccented or unstressed syllable, word, etc, such as for in food for thought

Other Word Forms

• atonicity noun

Etymology

Origin of atonic

1720–30; a- ⁶ + tonic; in pathology sense, aton(y) + -ic

Example Sentences

He then developed atonic seizures, in which his muscle lost tone — his muscles would go limp and he would drop to the ground.

From Nature • Jul. 8, 2014

Falls during his atonic seizures resulted in head injuries, so he started to wear a helmet.

From Nature • Jul. 8, 2014

Aloe is bitter and astringent, and is used under prescription for some cases of menstrual irregularities, chronic constipation, atonic dyspepsia and worms.

From Time Magazine Archive

When synovial distensions are of long standing, it is necessary to take special precautions to check excessive secretion of synovial fluid, and, also because of the atonic condition of the tissues affected, resolution is tardy.

From Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 by Lacroix, John Victor

Uses.—The decoction of the leaves is used locally in sores and atonic ulcers, followed by a poultice of the boiled and mashed leaves.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers