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epicritic

[ ep-i-krit-ik ]
/ ˌɛp ɪˈkrɪt ɪk /
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adjective Physiology.
noting or pertaining to a discriminating responsiveness to small variations in pain or temperature stimuli (opposed to protopathic).
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Origin of epicritic

First recorded in 1900–05, epicritic is from the Greek word epikrítikos determinative. See epicrisis1, -tic

Words nearby epicritic

epicondylitis, epicontinental, epicotyl, epicranium, epicrisis, epicritic, epic simile, Epictetus, epicure, epicurean, Epicureanism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use epicritic in a sentence

  • Protopathic and epicritic sensibility are lost over the radial side of the forearm.

    Manual of Surgery|Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

  • The areas of epicritic and of protopathic insensibility are illustrated in Fig. 91.

    Manual of Surgery|Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

British Dictionary definitions for epicritic

epicritic
/ (ˌɛpɪˈkrɪtɪk) /
adjective
(of certain nerve fibres of the skin) serving to perceive and distinguish fine variations of temperature or touch

Word Origin for epicritic

C20: from Greek epikritikos decisive, from epikrinein to decide, from epi- + krinein to judge
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
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