tonic

¹

[ ton-ik ]

noun

1. a medicine that invigorates or strengthens:

   a tonic of sulphur and molasses.

2. anything invigorating physically, mentally, or morally:

   His cheerful greeting was a real tonic.

   Synonyms: pickup, bracer, restorative, stimulant

3. quinine water.
4. Music. the first degree of the scale; the keynote.
5. Chiefly Eastern New England. soda pop.
6. Phonetics. a tonic syllable or accent.

adjective

1. pertaining to, maintaining, increasing, or restoring the tone or health of the body or an organ, as a medicine.
2. invigorating physically, mentally, or morally.
3. Physiology, Pathology.
   1. pertaining to tension, as of the muscles.
   2. marked by continued muscular tension:

      a tonic spasm.

4. using differences in tone or pitch to distinguish between words that are otherwise phonemically identical:

   a tonic language.

5. pertaining to tone or accent in speech.
6. Phonetics. (of a syllable) bearing the principal stress or accent, usually accompanied by a change in pitch.
7. Music.
   1. of or relating to a tone or tones.
   2. pertaining to or founded on the keynote, or first tone, of a musical scale:

      a tonic chord.

-tonic

²

1. a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -tonia:

   catatonic.

tonic

/ ˈtɒnɪk /

noun

1. a medicinal preparation intended to improve and strengthen the functioning of the body or increase the feeling of wellbeing
2. anything that enlivens or strengthens

   his speech was a tonic to the audience

3. Also calledtonic water a mineral water, usually carbonated and containing quinine and often mixed with gin or other alcoholic drinks
4. music
   1. the first degree of a major or minor scale and the tonal centre of a piece composed in a particular key
   2. a key or chord based on this
5. a stressed syllable in a word

adjective

1. serving to enliven and invigorate

   a tonic wine

2. of or relating to a tone or tones
3. music of or relating to the first degree of a major or minor scale
4. of or denoting the general effect of colour and light and shade in a picture
5. physiol of, relating to, characterized by, or affecting normal muscular or bodily tone

   a tonic spasm

6. of or relating to stress or the main stress in a word
7. denoting a tone language

Derived Forms

• ˈtonically, adverb

Other Words From

• toni·cal·ly adverb
• anti·tonic adjective noun
• non·tonic adjective
• pre·tonic noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonic¹

First recorded in 1640–50, tonic is from the Greek word tonikós pertaining to stretching or tones. See tone, -ic

Origin of tonic²

tonic

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonic¹

C17: from New Latin tonicus, from Greek tonikos concerning tone, from tonos tone

Example Sentences

“My Inner Sky,” by Mari AndrewAndrew’s new book is a calming tonic for uncertain times.

From Washington Post

In a gin and tonic or other spring highball, it adds a crisp, fresh note.

From Washington Post

Jezler says she conceived of the workshop as a kind of tonic for the slate of problems Covid-19 has brought to remote teams.

From Quartz

All five episodes are available now wherever you get your podcasts… just search tech tonic.

From MIT Technology Review

Both cities have special things to recommend them, though I wouldn’t say broth tonic is one of them.

From Outside Online

Webb comes across with a clarity of expression that is rare for a politician and that the voters might find a welcome tonic.

From The Daily Beast

The result is a jade green soup that is smooth and gently tonic.

From The Daily Beast

For Feiffer, the cold isolation of the upstate New York retreat worked like a tonic.

From The Daily Beast

Ultimately, the recommended tonic is based on your mind-body type according to ancient tradition.

From The Daily Beast

Unfortunately, the four-time NBA All-Star was tragically known for his unofficial nickname: Vin and Tonic.

From The Daily Beast

Monsieur Ratignolle was delighted to see her, though he found her looking not so well as at Grand Isle, and he advised a tonic.

From Project Gutenberg

And the familiar scenery, together with the wholesome exercise of sculling, acted as a tonic to his nerves.

From Project Gutenberg

First of all is the forceful utterance of the stressed syllable; the Provençal has post-tonic syllables, unlike the sister-speech.

From Project Gutenberg

He shrewdly suspected that the infinite peace of the landscape would prove the best tonic for her overwrought mind.

From Project Gutenberg

“A useful phrase at times, of the nature of a tonic, amidst our enervating civilisation,” she reflected.

From Project Gutenberg