Hec"tic (?), a. [F. hectique,
Gr. ? habitual, consumptive, fr. ? habit, a habit of body or
mind, fr. ? to have; akin to Skr. sah to overpower, endure;
cf. AS. sige, sigor, victory, G. sieg, Goth.
sigis. Cf. Scheme.] 1. Habitual;
constitutional; pertaining especially to slow waste of animal tissue,
as in consumption; as, a hectic type in disease; a
hectic flush.
2. In a hectic condition; having hectic
fever; consumptive; as, a hectic patient.
Hectic fever (Med.), a fever of
irritation and debility, occurring usually at a advanced stage of
exhausting disease, as a in pulmonary consumption.
Hec"tic, n. 1.
(Med.) Hectic fever.
2. A hectic flush.
It is no living hue, but a strange
hectic.
Byron.