- -ic
- 1. Suffix denoting of, pertaining to. 2. Chemical suffix denoting an element in a compound in one of its highest valencies. Cf.:-ous (1). 3. Suffix indicating an acid. [L. -icus, fr. G. -ikos]
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[L. -icus, from Gr. -ikos] 1. a suffix meaning pertaining to or characteristic of, e.g., acidic. 2. in chemistry, a suffix used to indicate an ion or acid exhibiting the higher of two oxidation states, the other being indicated by the suffix -ous.
Medical dictionary. 2011.