hepatic

[ hi-pat-ik ]

/ hɪˈpæt ɪk /

adjective

of or relating to the liver.

acting on the liver, as a medicine.

liver-colored; dark reddish-brown.

Botany. belonging or pertaining to the liverworts.

noun

a medicine acting on the liver.

a liverwort.

Nearby words

heparitin sulfate, hepat-, hepatalgia, hepatatrophia, hepatectomy, hepatic, hepatic artery, hepatic coma, hepatic duct, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic flexure

Origin of hepatic

1350–1400; Middle English epatik ≪ Latin hēpaticus < Greek hēpatikós. See hepato-, -ic

Related forms

non·he·pat·ic, adjective, nounpost·he·pat·ic, adjectivesub·he·pat·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hepatic

In this way a species of recess (Spigelian recess or hepatic antrum of lesser sac) is formed.
The Anatomy of the Human Peritoneum and Abdominal Cavity|George. S. Huntington
The rapid growth of the organ leads to a great increase in the number of the hepatic cylinders.
The Anatomy of the Human Peritoneum and Abdominal Cavity|George. S. Huntington
The shoulder pain appears at the same time, in a majority of cases, as the hepatic pain, but it is very capricious.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II|Various
Many physiologists have indeed made the insulated remark, that the dark complexion has much to do with the hepatic secretion.
Beauty|Alexander Walker

There are trout lilies, Solomon's-seal, Hepatic and many other varieties of flowers.
Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia|Carrie Hunter Willis

British Dictionary definitions for hepatic

hepatic

/ (hɪˈpætɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to the liver

botany of or relating to the liverworts

having the colour of liver

noun

obsolete any of various drugs for use in treating diseases of the liver

a less common name for a liverwort

Word Origin for hepatic

C15: from Latin hēpaticus, from Greek hēpar liver

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