lytic

[lit-ik]

adjective

of, noting, or pertaining to lysis or a lysin.

Origin of lytic

First recorded in 1885–90, lytic is from the Greek word lytikós able to loosen. See -lyte¹, -ic

-lytic

a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -lysis: analytic; paralytic.

Origin of -lytic

see origin at lytic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for lytic

Historical Examples of lytic

Third, lytic agents in the blood serum may play the chief rle in the liberation of the toxic agent from its non-toxic combination.
Handbook of Medical Entomology
William Albert Riley

British Dictionary definitions for lytic

lytic

adjective

relating to, causing, or resulting from lysis
of or relating to a lysin

Word Origin for lytic

C19: Greek lutikos capable of loosing

-lytic

adj combining form

indicating a loosening or dissolvingparalytic

Word Origin for -lytic

from Greek, from lusis; see -lysis

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

Word Origin and History for lytic

adj.

"pertaining to lysis," 1889, from Greek lytikos "able to loose, loosing," from lytos "loosed," verbal adjective of lyein "to unfasten, loose, loosen, untie" (see lose). Related: Lytically.

-lytic

word-forming element used in making adjectives corresponding to nouns in -lysis, from Greek -lytikos, from lytikos "able to loose, loosing," from lytos "loosed," verbal adjective of lyein "to unfasten, loose, loosen, untie" (see lose).

lytic in Medicine

lytic

[lĭt′ĭk]

adj.

Of, relating to, or causing lysis.
Of or relating to a lysin.

-lytic

suff.

Of, relating to, or causing a specified kind of decomposition:lymphatolytic.