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spasticity

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spas⋅tic

[spas-tik] Pathology
–adjective
1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by spasm, esp. tonic spasm.
–noun
2. a person exhibiting such spasms.

Origin:
1745–55; < L spasticus afflicted with spasms < Gk spastikós of a spasm, equiv. to spas-, s. of spân to pull off, pluck, convulse + -tikos -tic


spas⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
spas⋅tic⋅i⋅ty [spa-stis-i-tee] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spas·tic   (spās'tĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or characterized by spasms: a spastic colon; a spastic form of cerebral palsy.

  2. Affected by spastic paralysis.

  3. Offensive Slang Clumsy or inept.

n.  A person affected with spastic paralysis.

[Latin spasticus, from Greek spastikos, from spān, to pull.]
spas'ti·cal·ly adv., spas·tic'i·ty (spā-stĭs'ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
spastic

  1. mod.
    overly responsive; out of control. : She can get so spastic when I come in late.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

spastic  (adj.)
1753, from L. spasticus, from Gk. spastikos "afflicted with spasms," lit. "drawing, pulling," from span "draw up" (see spasm). The noun meaning "a person affected with spastic paralysis" is attested from 1896; derogatory slang shortening spaz first recorded 1965.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2spastic
Function: noun
: an individual affected with spastic paralysis

Main Entry: spas·ti·ci·ty
Pronunciation: spa-'stis-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: a spasticstate or condition; especially : muscular hypertonicity with increased tendon reflexes
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

spastic spas·tic (spās'tĭk)
adj.

  1. Relating to or affected by spasm.

  2. Relating to spastic paralysis.

spasticity spas·tic·i·ty (spā-stĭs'ĭ-tē)
n.

  1. A spastic state or condition.

  2. Spastic paralysis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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