a. [f. as prec. + -AL 1.]
1. = EPILEPTIC A. 1.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. iii. II. i. Headache followes; and as Salust Salvianus … found, epilepticall, with a multitude of humours in the head.
1656. H. More, Enthus. Tri., 21. That he was Melancholy his Epilepticall fits are one argument.
1727. Lardner, Wks. (1838), I. 487. It was a sad epileptical disease.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. l. A kind of wild and horrid glee, Half epileptical, and half hysterical.
2. fig. Spasmodic; inconstant: also, hard to hold or retain.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. vi. § 3. 99. And did they answer their promise which are so commended, in Epilepticall intentions, wee would abate these qualities.
1646. Evance, Noble Ord., 9. It is this that makes the state of honour so epilepticall, so slippery.
