Tonic


(a.) Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (Phon.), applied to, or distingshing, a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, such sounds, namely, the vowels and diphthongs, being so called by Dr. James Rush (1833) " from their forming the purest and most plastic material of intonation."


(a.) Of or pertaining to tension; increasing tension; hence, increasing strength; as, tonic power.


(a.) Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring healthy functions.


(n.) A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.


(n.) The key tone, or first tone of any scale.


(n.) A medicine that increases the strength, and gives vigor of action to the system.


(a.) Characterized by continuous muscular contraction; as, tonic convulsions.



Similar Words:

Acetonic   Architectonic   Architectonical   Architectonics   Atonic   Catelectrotonic   Crotonic   Diatonic   Diatonically   Electrotonic  


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