1. Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (Phon.), applied to, or distingshing, a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, such sounds, namely, the vowels and diphthongs, being so called by Dr. James Rush (1833) " from their forming the purest and most plastic material of intonation."
2. Of or pertaining to tension; increasing tension; hence, increasing strength; as, tonic power.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring heatly functions. Tononic spasm. (Med.) See the Note under Spasm.
TONIC
Ton"ic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. tonigue, NL. tonicum.]
1. (Phon.)
Defn: A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The key tone, or first tone of any scale.
3. (Med.)