tetanic

[ 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. Compare tetany.

tetanic

/ təˈtænɪk /

adjective

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

noun

1. a tetanic drug or agent

Derived Forms

• teˈtanically, adverb

Other Words From

• te·tani·cal·ly adverb
• postte·tanic adjective
• subte·tanic adjective
• subte·tani·cal 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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Feels as if a spasm of the heart, tetanic.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg