tic

¹

[ tik ]

noun

1. Pathology.
   1. a sudden, spasmodic, painless, involuntary muscular contraction, as of the face.
   2. tic douloureux.
2. a persistent or recurrent behavioral trait; personal quirk:

   her distinctive verbal tics.

-tic

²

1. a suffix, equivalent in meaning to -ic, occurring in adjectives of Greek origin ( analytic ), used especially in the formation of adjectives from nouns with stems in -sis: hematotic; neurotic.

tic

/ tɪk /

noun

1. spasmodic twitching of a particular group of muscles
2. See tic douloureux

Word History and Origins

Origin of tic¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from French (of expressive origin)

Origin of tic²

< Greek -tikos, extracted from adjectives derived with -ikos -ic from agent nouns ending in -tēs; hieratic

Word History and Origins

Origin of tic¹

C19: from French, of uncertain origin; compare Italian ticche

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "We are committed to supporting young people living with Tourette's syndrome and other tic disorders and recognise the importance of research to better understand and find new treatments for Tourette's syndrome and other long-term conditions."

From BBC

One child said suppressing their coughing tic had left them with an itchy feeling of a "flower in their throat".

From BBC

"It provokes panic attacks, tic attacks, which can go on well into the night," said Louise.

From BBC

Although he's long exhibited this rhetorical tic, in recent days he's really outdone himself.

From Salon

All so they could video candidate Trump for Tic Toc, campaigning with his grin and signature thumbs up over the grave of a fallen soldier.

From Salon

Related Words

• twitch