opisthotonos

O1P3I1S1T1H4O1T1O1N1O1S1

noun

Sustained tetanic spasm in which the body is bent backwards and stiffened, as produced by various diseases.

OriginLatin opisthotonus ← Ancient Greek ὀπισθότονος →
First used 16th c.Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounopisthotonos (uncountable)

alternative opisthotonus

  1. uncountablemedicineSustained tetanic spasm in which the body is bent backwards and stiffened, as produced by various diseases.First known use 16th c.

    [T]he Actors struggled & bounced, and sprunted as if in Convulsions; like Patients under the Influence of a Disease called in Jamaica the Opisthotonos or dry Gripes […].

    1786 August 16, Hester Thrale Piozzi, Thraliana

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὀπισθότονος
  2. Latinopisthotonus
  3. Englishopisthotonos

From Latin opisthotonus, and its source, Ancient Greek ὀπισθότονος (opisthótonos), corresponding to opistho- + tonus (“muscle tension”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

opisthotonos. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opisthotonos

MLA

“opisthotonos.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opisthotonos. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “opisthotonos,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opisthotonos.

Source: opisthotonos on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.