Hectic


[hek-tik] /ˈhɛk tɪk/

adjective
1.
characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc.:
The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting.
/ˈhɛktɪk/
adjective
1.
characterized by extreme activity or excitement
2.
associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush)
noun
3.
a hectic fever or flush
4.
(rare) a person who is consumptive or who experiences a hectic fever or flush
adj.

late 14c., etik (in fever etik), from Old French etique “consumptive,” from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos “continuous, habitual, consumptive” (of a disease, because of the constant fever), from hexis “a habit (of mind or body),” from ekhein “have, hold, continue” (see scheme).

The Latin -h- was restored in English 16c. Sense of “feverishly exciting, full of disorganized activity” first recorded 1904, but hectic also was used in Middle English as a noun meaning “feverish desire, consuming passion” (early 15c.). Hectic fevers are characterized by rapid pulse, among other symptoms. Related: Hecticness.

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  • Hectically

    [hek-tik] /ˈhɛk tɪk/ adjective 1. characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc.: The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting. /ˈhɛktɪk/ adjective 1. characterized by extreme activity or excitement 2. associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush) noun 3. a hectic fever […]

  • Hecticly

    [hek-tik] /ˈhɛk tɪk/ adjective 1. characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc.: The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting. /ˈhɛktɪk/ adjective 1. characterized by extreme activity or excitement 2. associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush) noun 3. a hectic fever […]

  • Hecticness

    [hek-tik] /ˈhɛk tɪk/ adjective 1. characterized by intense agitation, excitement, confused and rapid movement, etc.: The week before the trip was hectic and exhausting. /ˈhɛktɪk/ adjective 1. characterized by extreme activity or excitement 2. associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush) noun 3. a hectic fever […]

  • Hecto-

    1. a combining form meaning “hundred,” used in the formation of compound words: hectograph; hectogram. prefix 1. denoting 100: hectogram, h hecto- or hect- pref. One hundred (102): hectogram.

  • Hectocotylus

    [hek-tuh-kot-l-uh s] /ˌhɛk təˈkɒt l əs/ noun, plural hectocotyli [hek-tuh-kot-l-ahy] /ˌhɛk təˈkɒt lˌaɪ/ (Show IPA). Zoology. 1. a modified arm of the male of certain cephalopods that is used to transfer sperm to the female. /ˌhɛktəʊˈkɒtɪləs/ noun (pl) -li (-ˌlaɪ) 1. a tentacle in certain male cephalopod molluscs, such as the octopus, that is specialized […]


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