Definition: Hectic is an adjective used to describe something that is very busy and full of activity, often to the point of chaos.
Etymology & Origin: The word ‘hectic’ comes from the Middle French ‘hectique,’ which itself is derived from the Late Latin ‘hecticus’ meaning ‘habitual, consumptive’. This Latin term stems from the Greek ‘hektikos,’ which means ‘habitual, consumptive,’ originally ‘pertaining to a habit’. It started being used in the 14th century to describe a fever that was constant and wasting, and from the 1600s it was applied more generally to frenzied or chaotic activity.
Examples:
- The office was hectic on the day of the product launch.
- She had a hectic schedule of meetings and appointments all day.
- The narrow streets of Paris were hectic with activity, carts rattling past and street vendors shouting over the din of the crowd. (From City of Light, City of Poison by Holly Tucker)
