adj. 1. Characterized by intense activity, confusion, or haste: "There was nothing feverish or hectic about his vigor" (Erik Erikson). 2. Medicine Of, relating to, or being a fever that fluctuates during the day, as in tuberculosis or septicemia. 3. Consumptive; feverish. 4. Flushed. [Middle English etik, recurring fever, from Old French etique, from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos, habitual, consumptive (as a fever), from hexis, habit, from ekhein, to be in a certain condition; see segh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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