— catheptic /keuh thep"tik/ , adj.
/keuh thep"sin/ , n. Biochem.
any of a class of intracellular proteolytic enzymes, occurring in animal tissue, esp. the liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestine, that catalyze autolysis in certain pathological conditions and after death.
[ 1925-30; kathéps ( ein ) to digest ( cat- CAT- + hépsein to boil) + -IN 2 ]