adj. Hastening or facilitating childbirth, especially by stimulating contractions of the uterus. Used of a drug. n. An oxytocic drug. [French oxytocique, drug that hastens childbirth, from New Latin oxytocius, hastening childbirth, from Late Greek *oxutokiā, sudden delivery, from Greek ōkutokios, oxytocic : ōkus, swift; see ōku- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + tokos, birth; see tek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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