drastic en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek δρᾰ́ω (drắō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Hellenic *-tis Ancient Greek -τῐς (-tĭs) Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs) Ancient Greek δρᾶσῐς (drâsĭs) ▲ Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) ? Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Hellenic *-tós Ancient Greek -τος (-tos) ▲ Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) ? Ancient Greek -τῐκός (-tĭkós) Ancient Greek δρᾱστῐκός (drāstĭkós)der. English drastic From Ancient Greek δραστικός (drastikós, “active, efficient”), from δρᾶσις (drâsis, “strength, efficacy”), itself from δράω (dráō, “to do”).
Meanings
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Having a strong or far-reaching effect; extreme, severe.
Mister Crowley, won't you ride my white horse? Mister Crowley, it's symbolic of course Approaching a time that is classic I hear that maiden's call Approaching a time that is drastic Standing with their backs to the wall
1981, Ozzy Osbourne, “Mr. Crowley”, in Blizzard of Ozz, performed by Ozzy Osbourne:Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around.
2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:If our third attempt fails, we may need drastic ideas.
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(qualifier:Orig. of medicine) Acting rapidly or violently.
Great statesmen err, and why not small medical men? Mr. Wrench did not neglect sending the usual white parcels, which this time had black and drastic contents. Their effect was not alleviating to poor Fred [...]
1871-72, George Eliot, Middlemarch:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more drastic | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most drastic | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| drastick | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
ultradrastic · drastic times call for drastic measures · dramastic · superdrastic · drastically
Synonyms
draconian (severe)
Translations (37)
hy կտրուկ (extreme, severe) · hu drasztikus (extreme, severe) · ca dràstic (extreme, severe) · fi radikaali (extreme, severe) · pt drástico (extreme, severe) · ast drásticu (extreme, severe) · sv drastisk (extreme, severe) · fr drastique (extreme, severe) · hy վճռական (extreme, severe) · oc drastic (extreme, severe) · nl drastisch (extreme, severe) · eo drasta (extreme, severe) · fr draconien (extreme, severe) · id drastis (extreme, severe) · cmn 大刀闊斧 /大刀阔斧 (extreme, severe) · ru радикальный (extreme, severe) · ru реши́тельный (extreme, severe) · fr énergique (extreme, severe) · ru интенсивный (extreme, severe) · fi äärimmäinen (extreme, severe) · ru невероя́тный (extreme, severe) · eo radikala (extreme, severe) · de drastisch (extreme, severe) · he דרסטי (extreme, severe) · it drastico (extreme, severe) · io drastika (extreme, severe) · pl drastyczny (extreme, severe) · hy արմատական (extreme, severe) · af drasties (extreme, severe) · ru глубо́кий (extreme, severe) · tr köklü (extreme, severe) · bg драстичен (extreme, severe) · cs drastický (extreme, severe) · ru ре́зкий (extreme, severe) · es drástico (extreme, severe) · gl drástico (extreme, severe) · fi drastinen (extreme, severe)