symptomatic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to or according to or affecting a symptom or symptoms

   symptomatic relief

2. 2
   adj

   Showing symptoms.

   It is important to observe symptomatic cats out of the carrier, on the floor in a safe, escape-proof room. Swelling, heat, and pain in one or more joints can explain many signs, including lameness, malaise, and fever.

3. 3
   adj

   Constituting a symptom or indication; characteristic, indicative.

   The city's problems are symptomatic of the crisis that is spreading throughout the country.

4. 4
   adj

   characteristic or indicative of a disease

5. 5
   adj

   Of a treatment, that only affects the symptoms of a disease without targeting the underlying cause.

6. 6
   adj

   Relating to symptomatics.

7. 7
   noun

   A person exhibiting the symptoms of an illness.

Etymology

Borrowed from French symptomatique, from New Latin symptomaticus, from Ancient Greek συμπτωματικός (sumptōmatikós, “of or pertaining to a chance (or a symptom), casual”), from σύμπτωμα (súmptōma, “a symptom”). By surface analysis, symptom + -atic.