tetanic

T1E1T1A1N1I1C3
/təˈtæn.ɪk/

adjective

Of or relating to tetanus.

OriginFrench tétanique →
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Meanings

adjectivetetanic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf or relating to tetanus.

    This condition of muscle, this fusion of a number of simple spasms into an apparently smooth, continuous effort, is known as tetanus, or tetanic contraction.

    1876, Michael Foster, A Textbook of Physiology
    1 more example

    “The convulsions were of a peculiar violence, Dr. Wilkins. I am sorry you were not here in time to witness them. They were quite—tetanic in character.”

    1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 30
  2. not comparableCausing tetanus.
  3. not comparableOf or relating to tetany.
  4. not comparableCausing tetany.
nountetanic (plural tetanics)

plural tetanics

  1. Any substance that causes tetanic spasms.

    Nux vomica, strychnine, and brucine are tetanics.

Origin

  1. Frenchtétanique
  2. Englishtetanic

From French tétanique.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with tetanic

organicHispanicpanicmechanictitanicvolcanicinorganicmanicbotanicshamanicBritannictannictympanicclavulanicRomanicaldermanicDianicallophanicalloxanicbalanicbistephaniccaroticotympanicCatalaniccyanic
All rhymes →

Anagrams

entaticnictate
Cite this entry
APA

tetanic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tetanic

MLA

“tetanic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tetanic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tetanic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tetanic.

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