ictus

noun

ic·tus | \ ˈik-təs

How to pronounce ictus (audio)

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Definition of ictus

: the recurring stress or beat in a rhythmic or metrical series of sounds

History and Etymology for ictus

borrowed from Latin, "stroke, blow, beat (in music or metrics)," from ic-, variant stem of īcere "to strike with a weapon, smite, affect strongly" (perhaps going back to Indo-European *h₂i-h₂iḱ-é-, reduplicated present stem from a verbal base *h₂ei̯ḱ- "to run through (with something pointed), spear") + -tus, suffix of action nouns

Note: For nominal derivatives of *h₂ei̯ḱ- see etymology at aichmophobia. If such a verbal base exists, the only evidence for its survival in a verb would be Latin īcere (assuming the correctness of the etymology).

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Cite this Entry

“Ictus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ictus. Accessed 4 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for ictus

ictus

noun

ic·tus | \ ˈik-təs

\

Medical Definition of ictus

1 : a beat or pulsation especially of the heart

2 : a sudden attack or seizure especially of stroke

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