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Webster 1913 Edition

Procatarctic

Proˊcat-arc′tic

,
Adj.
[Gr. [GREEK] beginning beforehand. fr. [GREEK] to begin first; [GREEK] before + [GREEK] to begin; [GREEK] intens. + [GREEK] to begin: cf. F.
procatarctique
. ]
(Med.)
Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial.
[Obs.]
☞ The words procatarctic causes have been used with different significations. Thus they have been employed synonymously with prime causes, exciting causes, and predisposing or remote causes.
The physician inquires into the
procatarctic
causes.
Harvey.

Webster 1828 Edition

Procatarctic

PROCATARC'TIC

,
Adj.
[Gr. to begin.] In medicine, pre-existing or predisposing; remote; as procatarctic causes of a disease,in distinction from immediate or exciting causes. Thus heat may be the procatarctic, and extreme fatigue the immediate or exciting cause of a fever.

Definition 2024

procatarctic

procatarctic

English

Adjective

procatarctic ‎(not comparable)

  1. (chiefly medicine) Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial.
  2. (medicine) Descriptive of an existing condition or state that caused, predisposed for or excited a present condition.
    • 1797, Colin Macfarquhar, George Gleig, Encyclopædia Britannica, "Causes", page 271:
      Procatarctic cause, called also primitive and incipient cause, is either an occasion which of its own nature does not beget a disease, but, happening on a body inclined to diseases, breeds a fever, gout &c. (such as are watching, fasting, and the like); or an evident and manifest cause, which immediately produces the disease, as being sufficient thereto, such as is a sword in respect to a wound.

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