Etymology From Middle English epatik, from Late Latin hepaticus, from Ancient Greek ἡπατικός (hēpatikós, “of the liver”), from ἧπαρ (hêpar, “liver”).
1
Of or relating to the liver.
2
Acting on or occurring in the liver.
3
Of a deep brownish-red color like that of the liver.
Polyhydrite, a silicate of oxide of iron from Breitenbrun, Saxony, is of a hepatic color, vitreous lustre and opaque1842, Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger, “Mineralogical Notices”, in The American journal of science and arts, page 386:
In fact bis weakness was for alcoholic stimulants. Hence his liver was carefully examined. It was not of the usual hepatic color ; in this case it presented a deep purple-black1872, “Remarks on Longevity”, in The Medical and surgical reporter, page 104:
1 more example
Among the most striking ot the internal modifications is the gradual change of the liver from the characteristic hepatic color to a bright green.1893, The Wilder quarter-century book: a collection of original papers, page 438:
Etymology From Middle English epatik, from Late Latin hepaticus, from Ancient Greek ἡπατικός (hēpatikós, “of the liver”), from ἧπαρ (hêpar, “liver”).
1
Any compound that acts on the liver.
2
A liverwort (kind of plant)
There is now such an immense "microliterature" on hepatics that, beyond a certain point I have given up trying to integrate (and evaluate) every minor paper published—especially narrowly floristic papers.1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page viii: