I. ˈtänik, -nēk adjective
Etymology: Greek tonikos of tension, of tone, from tonos tension, tone + -ikos -ic — more at tone
1.
a. : relating to or characterized by tension
b. : producing or adapted to produce healthy muscular condition and reaction
c. of muscular contraction : maintained during prolonged periods : characterized by tonus — contrasted with clonic
d. of bodily states : marked or characterized by tonic muscular contraction
tonic convulsions
2.
a. : increasing or restoring physical or mental tone : having the virtue or effect of a stimulant : invigorating , refreshing , bracing
a tonic quality in her laughter — Agnes Repplier
tonic air of the upland morning put vigor into his blood — John Buchan
tonic therapy
b. : yielding a tonic substance
3. : relating to or based on the first tone of the scale
tonic harmony
4.
a. : voiced 2
b. of a syllable : bearing a principal stress or accent — compare posttonic , pretonic
5. : of or relating to speech tones or to languages using them : employing tones to distinguish words
Chinese is a tonic language
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a drug, medicine, or physical agent that increases body tone
digitalis acts as a heart tonic by increasing cardiac tone
sun baths are a tonic in some respiratory diseases
b. : something that invigorates, restores, refreshes, or stimulates
his fear acted as a tonic
c. : a liquid preparation for cleansing and toning the scalp
d. chiefly New England : a carbonated flavored beverage : soda pop
2. : the first degree of a major or minor scale constituting the tonal center of a musical composition which has an established tonality — called also keynote
3. : a voiced sound
III. transitive verb
( tonicked ; tonicked ; tonicking ; tonics )
Etymology: tonic (II)
: to give a tonic to : strengthen by a tonic
tonicked her children every winter with cod-liver oil