hectic en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈhɛktɪk/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Middle English etik, ethik, from Old French etique, from Medieval Latin *hecticus, from Ancient Greek ἑκτικός (hektikós, “habitual, hectic, consumptive”), from ἕξις (héxis, “a state or habit of body or of mind, condition”), from ἔχειν (ékhein, “to have, hold, be in a certain state”).
Meanings
-
(figuratively) Very busy with activity and confusion.
Phoenix:It must have been too hectic that night to clean up.
2007 March 16, Capcom Production Studio 4, quoting Phoenix, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, Europe: Capcom, →OCLC, Nintendo DS, scene: Part 3: Investigation, Cafeteria, level/area: Turnabout Big Top:The city center is so hectic at 8 in the morning that I go to work an hour beforehand to avoid the crowds
-
(obsolete) Denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption and similar wasting diseases, characterised by flushed cheeks and dry skin.
hectic fever
-
(obsolete) Pertaining to or symptomatic of such a fever.
She never complained, but sleep and appetite fled from her, a slow fever preyed on her veins, her colour was hectic, and she often wept in secret […].
1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter I, in The Last Man. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC:Ann had a hectic cough, and many unfavourable prognostics […].
1788, Mary Wollstonecraft, chapter VI, in Mary: A Fiction:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more hectic | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| hectical | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| hectick | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| most hectic | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
hectivity · hecticity · antihectic · hecticness · hectically · unhectic
Synonyms
Translations (53)
ru сумато́шный (very busy with activity and confusion) · ca agitat (very busy with activity and confusion) · pl hektyczny (very busy with activity and confusion) · bg възбуден (very busy with activity and confusion) · ro hectic (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · uk гектичний (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · es febril (very busy with activity and confusion) · ca febril (very busy with activity and confusion) · es ético (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · mk треска́вичен (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · cmn 忙碌的 (very busy with activity and confusion) · da hektisk (very busy with activity and confusion) · ru суетли́вый (very busy with activity and confusion) · de hektisch (very busy with activity and confusion) · cmn 繁忙的 (very busy with activity and confusion) · es ajetreado (very busy with activity and confusion) · ca frenètic (very busy with activity and confusion) · ro agitat (very busy with activity and confusion) · es frenético (very busy with activity and confusion) · fi kuumeinen (very busy with activity and confusion) · pl hektyczny (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · fr hectique (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · it febbrile (very busy with activity and confusion) · uk метушливий (very busy with activity and confusion) · pt febril (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · cs hektický (very busy with activity and confusion) · nl hectisch (very busy with activity and confusion) · ro febril (very busy with activity and confusion) · es héctico (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · ru лихора́дочный (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · fi hektinen (very busy with activity and confusion) · pt febril (very busy with activity and confusion) · ru гекти́ческий (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · es hético (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · uk сухотний (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · es agobiante (very busy with activity and confusion) · mk тре́скав (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · mk во́збуден (very busy with activity and confusion) · uk гарячковий (very busy with activity and confusion) · fr agité (very busy with activity and confusion) · bg неспокоен (very busy with activity and confusion) · pt frenético (very busy with activity and confusion) · bg трескав (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · ca febril (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · fi kiihkeä (very busy with activity and confusion) · it frenetico (very busy with activity and confusion) · ru лихора́дочный (very busy with activity and confusion) · mk неспо́коен (very busy with activity and confusion) · ca hèctic (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · fi hektinen (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · pt frenético (denoting a type of fever accompanying consumption) · sv jäktig (very busy with activity and confusion) · es movido (very busy with activity and confusion)