tetanic

Sometimes te·tan·i·cal

[tuh-tan-ik]

adjective

1. Pathology.,  pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by tetanus.

2. Medicine/Medical.,  noting a medicine or poison that can cause tetanic spasms of the muscles.

tetanic

/ təˈtænɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or producing tetanus or the spasms of tetanus

noun

1. a tetanic drug or agent

Other Word Forms

• tetanically adverb
• posttetanic adjective
• subtetanic adjective
• subtetanical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetanic¹

1720–30; < Latin tetanicus < Greek tetanikós, equivalent to tétan ( os ) spasm, tetanus + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Another sequela of cholera is a tetanic contraction of the flexor muscles of the limbs.

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They will carry off with them the extracted sisa for a small fee, then shortly afterwards a baby in the village goes off in tetanic convulsions.

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Feels as if a spasm of the heart, tetanic.

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Trismus, tris′mus, n. tetanic spasm of the muscles of mastication, lockjaw.

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The motor reaction then manifests itself in laughing, crying, or deglutitory spasms, and, if the irritation be of the severest kind, epileptic or tetanic spasms in addition.

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