tic

[tik] /tɪk/
noun
1.
Pathology.
  1. a sudden, spasmodic, painless, involuntary muscular contraction, as of the face.
  2. tic douloureux.
2.
a persistent or recurrent behavioral trait; personal quirk:
her distinctive verbal tics.
Origin
1790-1800; < French (of expressive orig.)
Can be confused
tic, tick.

-tic

1.
a suffix, equivalent in meaning to -ic, occurring in adjectives of Greek origin (analytic), used especially in the formation of adjectives from nouns with stems in -sis: hematotic; neurotic.
Origin
< Greek -tikos, extracted from adjectives derived with -ikos -ic from agent nouns ending in -tēs; cf. hieratic
British Dictionary definitions for tic

tic

/tɪk/
noun (pathol)
1.
spasmodic twitching of a particular group of muscles
2.
See tic douloureux
Word Origin
C19: from French, of uncertain origin; compare Italian ticche
Word Origin and History for tic
n.

twitching of a facial muscle, 1822, often a shortening of tic douloureux "severe facial neuralgia," literally "painful twitch" (1800), from French tic "a twitching disease of horses" (early 17c.), of unknown origin. Klein suggests an imitative origin; French etymologists compare it to Italian ticchio "whim, caprice."

tic in Medicine

tic (tĭk)
n.
A habitual spasmodic muscular movement or contraction, usually of the face or extremities. Also called habit spasm.

Related Abbreviations for tic

TIC

  1. tongue in cheek
  2. total inorganic carbon