hec·tic / ˈhektik/ • adj. 1. full of incessant or frantic activity: a hectic business schedule.2. archaic Med. relating to, affected by, or denoting a regularly recurrent fever typically accompanying tuberculosis, with flushed cheeks and hot, dry skin.• n. archaic Med. a hectic fever or flush. ∎  a patient suffering from such a fever.DERIVATIVES: hec·ti·cal·ly / -tik(ə)lē/ adv.ORIGIN: late Middle English etik, via Old French from late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos ‘habitual,’ from hexis ‘habit, state of mind or body.’ The original specific association with the symptoms of tuberculosis (hectic fever) gave rise to the early 20th-cent. sense ‘characterized by feverish activity.’

hectic of a wasting fever XIV; consumptive, feverish XVII; feverishly active, exciting XX. ME. etik — OF. etique — late L. hecticus — Gr. hektikós habitual, hectic, consumptive, f. héxis habit, state of body or mind, f. ékhein intr. (with adv.) be (in such-and-such a state); superseded XVI by the mod. form — F. hectique or late L.

hectic (hek-tik) adj. occurring regularly. h. fever a fever that typically develops in the afternoons, in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.