septic
/ˈsep.tɪ̝k/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.21 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or pertaining to sepsis.
adj
adj
Of or pertaining to sewage or the disposal of sewage.
noun
A substance that causes sepsis or putrefaction.
noun
A septic tank; a system for the disposal of sewage into a septic tank, a septic system.
Example Sentences
- "septic tank"
- "a septic system"
- "1750, John Pringle, Further Experiments on Substances Resisting Putrefaction, in 1809, Charles Hutton, George Shaw, Richard Pearson (editors), The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Volume X: 1750—1755, page 86, But, in the prosecution of this subject, he had met with very few real septics; and found many substances, commonly accounted such, of a quite opposite nature."
- "Acid-base balance data revealed moderately abnormal metabolic balance for both septics and nonseptics (in either direction) with normal respiratory balance or mild alkalosis."
- "The question is whether there are any spatial differences in how septics impact water quality, and whether these spatial variations should be considered when regulating septic improvement or removal."
- "Enriques states that it is possible to construct a family of septics with a singular curve of degree 7 and genus 4 having a triple point that degenerates to the above configuration[…]."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek σηπτικός (sēptikós, “characterized by putridity”), from σηπτός (sēptós), from σήπω (sḗpō).
Word Breakdown
- Suffix: ic
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈsep.tɪ̝k/
- British English: /ˈsɛp.tɪk/
Usage
- Dated
- Australian usage
- New Zealand usage
- British usage
- Slang
Inflected Forms
more septic (comparative)
most septic (superlative)
septick (alternative, obsolete)
septics (plural)
Derived Forms
Phrases
septic abortion
septic fever
septic shock
septic tank
septic drain
septic drainfield
septic field
septic system