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

Years later, political opponents occasionally taunted Mr. Prescott by suggesting that he fetch them a gin and tonic, but he remained proud of his origins.

From New York Times

Nonetheless, two items — the Calm shot and Unwind tonic — have seen sales increases of at least 28% in October compared with the same month last year.

From Los Angeles Times

For the women behind the bar, they’re putting together tonics and elixirs with the power to heal, protect and nourish the human spirit.

From Salon

King Charles is expected to return to a "normal" schedule of overseas trips next year after his visits to Australia and Samoa proved a "perfect tonic", a Buckingham Palace official has said.

From BBC

Business started slowly, but it ramped up once Beacon’s booze-free key lime margaritas and gin and tonics hit the shelves at major retailers such as BevMo and Total Wine & More.

From Los Angeles Times