from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hectic \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.
[1913 Webster]
2. In a hectic condition; having hectic fever; consumptive;
as, a hectic patient.
[1913 Webster]
{Hectic fever} (Med.), a fever of irritation and debility,
occurring usually at a advanced stage of exhausting
disease, as a in pulmonary consumption.
[1913 Webster]