adv. [f. TONIC a. or TONICAL: see -ICALLY.] In a tonic manner.

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  1.  By or in relation to tension; in the way of tonic contraction (see TONIC A. 1).

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1885.  Romanes, Jelly-Fish, viii. 209. In … Sarsia the irritability of the tonically contracting manubrium is higher than that of the rhythmically contracting bell.

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1904.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., 17 Dec., 1627. The muscles on the right side are somewhat more tonically contracted than those on the left.

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  2.  As a tonic (see TONIC B. 1, 1 b); so as to invigorate or ‘brace up.’

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1873.  Curwen, Hist. Booksellers, 304. The difficulty … might act tonically.

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1889.  Crouter, in Amer. Ann. Deaf, July, 182. The agreeable labor of planting and harvest, which tonically would be of service to them.

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