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ecbolic

[ek-bol-ik]
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adjective
  1. Medicine/Medical. promoting labor by increasing uterine contractions.
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noun
  1. Pharmacology. an ecbolic drug.
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Origin of ecbolic

1745–55; < Greek ekbol(ḗ) expulsion (equivalent to ek- ec- + -bolē a throwing) + -ic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ecbolic

Historical Examples

  • Here, if anywhere, should be material for the construction of a menstrual rhythm on an ecbolic basis.

    Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)

    Havelock Ellis

  • Although here probably seen in an exaggerated form, it is almost certainly a characteristic of the ecbolic curve generally.

  • Here, it will be seen, there appears to be a tendency for the ecbolic cycle to cover a period of about six weeks.

  • As will be seen, there is here a fairly exact resemblance to the yearly ecbolic curve of people of the same class.

British Dictionary definitions for ecbolic

ecbolic

adjective
  1. hastening labour or abortion
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noun
  1. a drug or agent that hastens labour or abortion
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Word Origin

C18: from Greek ekbolē a throwing out, from ekballein to throw out, from ballein to throw
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012