[symp.tom] n [LL symptomat-, symptoma, fr. Gk symptomat-, symptoma happening, attribute, symptom, fr. sympiptein to happen, fr. syn- + piptein to fall--more at feather] (1541) 1 a: subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance; broadly: something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder b: an evident reaction by a plant to a pathogen
2. a: something that indicates the existence of something else "~s of the time" b: a slight indication: trace syn see sign -- symp.tom.less adj