styptic

[ stip-tik ]

adjective

1. serving to contract organic tissue; astringent; binding.
2. serving to check hemorrhage or bleeding, as a drug; hemostatic.

noun

1. a styptic agent or substance.

styptic

/ stɪpˈtɪsɪtɪ; ˈstɪptɪk /

adjective

1. contracting the blood vessels or tissues

noun

1. a styptic drug

Derived Forms

• stypticity, noun

Other Words From

• styp·tic·i·ty [stip-, tis, -i-tee], stypti·cal·ness noun
• non·styptic adjective
• non·stypti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of styptic¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin stȳpticus < Greek stȳpikós contractile, equivalent to stȳp- ( stypsis ) + -tikos -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of styptic¹

C14: via Late Latin, from Greek stuptikos capable of contracting; see stypsis

Example Sentences

We shall put it to rights in a moment, with one drop of styptic—my styptic, or rather my wife's, sir—She makes the water herself.

From Project Gutenberg

It is powerfully styptic and astringent; and is used chiefly as an external application in cancer.

From Project Gutenberg

Its styptic properties are undoubtedly due to tannic acid, as all the tests I have been able to make prove this to be the case.

From Project Gutenberg

Tobacco leaves were used as a styptic by the Indians of Brazil in the sixteenth century.

From Project Gutenberg

The water in which it was dipped operated as a styptic, as a febrifuge, and possessed other properties as a medical talisman.

From Project Gutenberg