n. 1. The act or process of shaking violently, especially as a method of diagnosis to detect the presence of fluid and air in a body cavity. 2. The condition of being shaken violently. [Latin succussiō, succussiōn-, from succussus, past participle of succutere, to toss up : sub-, up from below; see SUB- + quatere, to shake; see kwēt- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] suc·cussa·to′ry (sə-kŭsə-tôr′ē) adj. |
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