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

In Picard the atonic ending mes is extended to all tenses, giving amomes, &c.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 1 "Franciscans" to "French Language" by Various

The injection of a large quantity of water into the lower bowel will mechanically empty it; but the effects are atonic and depressing as regards future action.

From The Mother and Her Child by Sadler, William S.