/sis"teuh lee', -lee/ , n.
1. Physiol. the normal rhythmical contraction of the heart, during which the blood in the chambers is forced onward. Cf. diastole .
2. Class. Pros. the shortening of a syllable regularly long.
[ 1570-80; systolé a drawing up, contraction, equiv. to sy- SY- + stolé pressure, orig., garment, equipment, equiv. to stol- (n. deriv. of stéllein to send, place) + -e fem. n. suffix; cf. DIASTOLE, SYSTALTIC ]