septic

comparative more septic · superlative most septic · alternative obsolete septick

1. Of or pertaining to sepsis.
2. Causing sepsis or putrefaction.
3. Of or pertaining to sewage or the disposal of sewage.

   septic tank

   1 more example

   a septic system

plural septics · alternative obsolete septick

1. A substance that causes sepsis or putrefaction.

   1 more example

   1750, John Pringle, Further Experiments on Substances Resisting Putrefaction, in 1809, Charles Hutton, George Shaw, Richard Pearson (editors), The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Volume X: 1750—1755, page 86, But, in the prosecution of this subject, he had met with very few real septics; and found many substances, commonly accounted such, of a quite opposite nature.

2. datedmedicineA person who has sepsis.

   Acid-base balance data revealed moderately abnormal metabolic balance for both septics and nonseptics (in either direction) with normal respiratory balance or mild alkalosis.

   1983 May/June, Ivo Giovannini, Giuseppe Boldrini, Marco Castagneto, Gabriele Sganga, Giuseppe Nanni, Mauro Pittiruti, Giancarlo Castiglioni, “Respiratory Quotient and Patterns of Substrate Utilization in Human Sepsis and Trauma”, in Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, volume 7, number 3, →DOI, page 227

3. A septic tank; a system for the disposal of sewage into a septic tank, a septic system.

   The question is whether there are any spatial differences in how septics impact water quality, and whether these spatial variations should be considered when regulating septic improvement or removal.

   2008, Alexey Voinov, Systems Science and Modeling for Ecological Economics, page 244

plural septics

1. mathematicsA mathematical object (function, curve, surface, etc.) of degree seven.

   Enriques states that it is possible to construct a family of septics with a singular curve of degree 7 and genus 4 having a triple point that degenerates to the above configuration[…].

   2002, Ingrid C. Bauer, Fabrizio Catanese, Roberto Pignatelli, “Canonical Rings of Surfaces Whose Canonical System has Base Points”, in Ingrid C. Bauer et al., editors, Complex Geometry: Collection of Papers Dedicated to Hans Grauert, page 66

   1 more example

   Now consider the two septics C = U⁷ᵢ₌₁Cᵢ, D = U⁷ᵢ₌₁Dᵢ and note that for i = 1,2,3,4,5,6 the lines Cᵢ and Dᵢ are parallel, so that the intersection of two septics S' consists of 6⁶^([sic]) + 6 + 1 = 43 points and it is the singular set of a foliation of degree 6.

   2003, Antonio Campillo, Santiago Encinas, “Two Dimensional Complete Ideals”, in Luchezar L. Avramov et al., editors, Commutative Algebra: Interactions with Algebraic Geometry: International Conference, page 71

1. not comparablemathematicsOf the seventh degree or order.

plural septics · alternative Septic

1. AustraliaNew ZealandUKethnicslangslurAn American, a Yank.

   “Didn′t enjoy the septics,” he says jokingly about the Americans.

   2011, Roger Rees, Out of Calamity: Stories of Trauma Survivors, unnumbered page

   2 more examples

   Typical septic. Can't understand why the rest of the world thinks he's a fuck-knuckle.

   1998 April 21, Justin Downey, “Re: rachel is awful cute!”, alt.nuke.the.USA, aus.flame.usa, and alt.flame

   “What′s the septics′ Achilles heel?” I said using the slang septic tank, meaning Yank.

   2012, John Righten, The Benevolence of Rogues, page 97

plural Septics

1. AustraliaCockneyNew ZealandUKalternativeslangAlternative form of septic; an American.

   Not only didn′t he want to tour he didn′t even want “Septics” (“Septic Tanks,″ meaning Yanks) to buy his records.

   1992 February, “The Brit Pack”, in Spin, page 41