ictus

American  

[ik-tuhs] / ˈɪk təs /

noun

plural

ictuses, ictus

1. Prosody. rhythmical or metrical stress.

2. Pathology.

   1. an epileptic seizure.

   2. a stroke, especially a cerebrovascular accident.

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ictus British  

/ ˈɪktəs /

noun

1. prosody metrical or rhythmic stress in verse feet, as contrasted with the stress accent on words

2. med a sudden attack or stroke

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Other Word Forms

• ictal adjective
• ictic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ictus

1700–10; < Latin: stroke, thrust, equivalent to īc ( ere ) to strike with a weapon + -tus suffix of v. action

Example Sentences

In so far as a mere trick of emphasis may serve to distinguish problems, this ictus indicates the sociological starting-point.

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra

Their pieces of battery had not only the execution but the thunder of our cannon also: "Ad ictus moenium cum terribili sonitu editos, pavor et trepidatio cepit."

From The Essays of Montaigne — Complete by Montaigne, Michel de

Ibi videri fuit pugnam acerrimam, ictus validissimos, tinniunt galeæ a percutientium collisione gladiorum, igneæ exsiliunt scintillæ, crepitant arma tumultuantium, perstrepunt voces; Turci se viriliter ingerunt, Templarii strenuissime defendunt.—Ib. cap. xxx. p.

From The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple by Addison, Charles G.

These are his words; "In Catilianis prodigiis, Pompeiano ex municipio M. Herennius Decurio serena die, fulmine ictus est."

From Observations on Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and Other Volcanos by Hamilton, William

Men who have yielded it are like cavalry put on the defensive; a very small force with an ictus will scatter them.

From The Egoist by Meredith, George