hecticity meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

hecticity

noun

Etymology From French hecticité or hectic + -ity.

The quality of being hectic (very busy with activity and confusion).

Notwithstanding the hecticity of the murky atmosphere, in which there was not a quiver from the U. S. flag that ornaments the grounds in lieu of a pennant.1913 August 10, Jerry Mack, “Knell of Day Terminates Game in the Ninth With No Decision; Umpire Sullivan Calls Off Fray With Score Even Up — 4 to 4. Errors Extravagant; Donley Pitches Well, But Sox Fail in Pinches Both Ways.”, in The Davenport Democrat, fifty-eighth year, number 259, Davenport, Iowa, section “Kaiser is Hoisted”, page 14:
His contention, developed in these four chapters of his book, is therefore eminently sane and practical, is not developed with the quasi-sentimental hecticity of “programs,” “propositions,” and “concordats” which might completely rupture[…]1921, The Living Church, page 761:

4 more examples

Jack Dempsey will swear off of so much hecticity.1922 December 31, Henry Vance, “New Year’s Resolutions”, in The Birmingham News, volume XXXV, number 310, Birmingham, Ala.:
’Twas in sooth the Christmas party, for which the Juniors and the Freshmen had truly in slavish fashion prepared amid the general hecticity of the pre-vacation days.1928, Pennsylvanian, page 150:
The hectic history of oil exploitation can show nothing for hecticity to equal the effort of exploitation of the last ten years in Venezuela.1928, The Annalist: A Magazine of Finance, Commerce and Economics, page 453:
How about late hours, heated rooms, traffic-dodging down the Portsmouth Road, general hecticity, and the soul-sickness of a futile life?1930, Philip Gibbs, The Hidden City, page 22:

Obsolete The quality of being hectic (pertaining to or symptomatic of hectic fever).

The suppurating osteo-myelitis and arthritis did not assume a form sufficiently putrid to cause purulent infection; the patient also escaped hecticity;1878, L[éon Athanese] Gosselin, “I. Hyperostosis of Right Femur. II. Necrosis of Left Tibia.”, in Lewis A. Stimson, transl., Clinical Lectures on Surgery, Delivered at the Hospital of La Charité, Philadelphia, Pa.: Henry C. Lea, part I (Surgical Diseases of Youth), page 42:
The author enumerates certain contra-indications; he insists upon hæmarrhage^([sic]) as the principal indication, and shows how the sufferer from hæmorrhoids who, from daily fluxes, has reached the last stage of hecticity, may be immediately restored by a simple and harmless operation;1878 June, F. Monod, “On Forced Dilatation of the Sphincter Ani. Considered specially in its application to the treatment of hæmorrhoids.”, in The New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, volume V, New Orleans, La.: T. H. Thomason, […], page 978:

4 more examples

And neither ‘hecticity’ nor purulent fever was produced.1883 January 13, “Therapeutical Value of Continuous Baths”, in The Medical Times and Gazette. A Journal of Medical Science, Literature, Criticism, and News., volume I. for 1883, London: […] J. & A. Churchill, page 49:
That indications for antipyretics should be filled first, and before all others, in the treatment of chronic tubercular disease when the patient is being gradually consumed by slow fever; because, while this fever exists, it may be said to hold out a standing invitation to hecticity, marasmus, and a further extension of inflammation in the lung-tissue.1885 September 15, “Antipyretic Indications: The New Antipyretic—Antipyrine—A Specific in Tuberculous Fever”, in The Physicians and Surgeons’ Investigator: A Monthly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, volume VI, number 9, Buffalo, N.Y.: […] the Physicians and Surgeons’ Association, page 262:
Should suppuration ensue we would have symptoms of hecticity.1890, J. D. Law, “Synovitis”, in The Texas Courier-Record of Medicine, volume VII, Dallas, Tex.: The Texas Medical Publishing Co., page 239:
There is cough, with tenacious mucus and bronchitis, then hecticity.1891 June 13, A. G. Auld, “Fibroid Pneumonia”, in The Lancet. A Journal of British and Foreign Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Physiology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Public Health, and News., volume I. for 1891; sixty-ninth year, number 3537, London, page 1309: