Clonic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈklɒn.ɪk/

Definitions

1. Referring to a pattern of sudden, recurrent muscle contractions that alternate with relaxation phases
2. Characterizing rapid, rhythmic jerks or spasms in muscle groups that can occur successively
3. Pertaining to muscle movements that involve quick, repeated contractions followed by relaxation phases

Etymology: "Clonic" is built from "clonus," a Latinized term for a rapid series of muscle contractions, with the adjectival suffix "-ic" added on the end. The core word "clonus" comes from Greek "klonos," meaning turmoil or violent motion, which is also the source of the medical sense of repeated jerking. Greek "klonos" referred to commotion and tumult before it came to describe the physical agitation of a muscle. The adjectival ending traces back through Latin "-icus" and Old French "-ique" before reaching Middle English "-ik" and the modern "-ic." That suffix is what turns a noun describing the condition into a word for something that has that quality, so "clonic" describes a muscle that moves in this jerking pattern. The formation follows the same pattern as many other medical adjectives built on Greek-derived nouns.