tetanic

American  

[tuh-tan-ik] / təˈtæn ɪk /

Sometimes tetanical

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 British  

/ təˈtænɪk /

adjective

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

---

noun

1. a tetanic drug or agent

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of tetanic

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

Example Sentences

There is then considerable abdominal pain and there may be cramps in the legs and other nervous phenomena, such as convulsions, and even lockjaw or other kinds of tetanic spasms.

From Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc. by Atkinson, George Francis

In tetanic spasm the limbs when bent return to their former position; not so in rigor mortis.

From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )

She becomes deadly pale; her limbs are stiffened by a sort of tetanic spasm, and her hair is partially erected on the front of the head.

From The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Darwin, Charles

The spasmodic spells alluded to were of a tetanic nature, the body being thrown backward; his head and eyes continued to be turned to the left, and nothing could attract the child’s attention.

From History of Circumcision from the Earliest Times to the Present Moral and Physical Reasons for its Performance by Remondino, Peter Charles

The face was furrowed, the brow seamed, the cheeks blanched; all the drooping features wept, while the mouth, unnerved, its under jaw racked by tetanic contractions, laughed atrociously.

From Là-bas by Wallace, Keene