adj. & n.
adj. 1 busy and confused; excited. 2 having a hectic fever; morbidly flushed.
n. 1 a hectic fever or flush. 2 a patient suffering from this. hectic fever (or flush) hist. a fever which accompanies consumption and similar diseases, with flushed cheeks and hot dry skin. hectically adv.
[ ME etik f. OF etique f. LL hecticus f. Gk hektikos habitual f. hexis habit, assim. to F hectique or LL ]