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

Plain water will not dissolve mucus that may have collected in the stomach, and warm water merely dilates that organ, relaxes its fibers, and renders the whole gastric digestive system atonic.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

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