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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Tonic \Ton"ic\, n. [Cf. F. tonique, NL. tonicum.]
1. (Phon.) A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.
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2. (Mus.) The key tone, or first tone of any scale.
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3. (Med.) A medicine that increases the strength, and gives
vigor of action to the system.
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{Tonic sol-fa} (Mus.), the name of the most popular among
letter systems of notation (at least in England), based on
key relationship, and hence called "tonic." Instead of the
five lines, clefs, signature, etc., of the usual notation,
it employs letters and the syllables do, re, mi, etc.,
variously modified, with other simple signs of duration,
of upper or lower octave, etc. See {Sol-fa}.
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Tonic \Ton"ic\, a. [Cf. F. tonigue, Gr. ?. See {Tone}.]
1. Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (Phon.),
applied to, or distingshing, a speech sound made with tone
unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, such sounds, namely,
the vowels and diphthongs, being so called by Dr. James
Rush (1833) " from their forming the purest and most
plastic material of intonation."
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2. Of or pertaining to tension; increasing tension; hence,
increasing strength; as, tonic power.
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3. (Med.) Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal
system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring
healthy functions.
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4. (Med.) Characterized by continuous muscular contraction;
as, tonic convulsions.
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{Tonic spasm}. (Med.) See the Note under {Spasm}.
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