procatarxis

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek προκαταρκτικός (prokatarktikós, “first beginning”), from προκατάρχω (prokatárkhō).

Noun

procatarxis

1. (medicine, dated) The kindling of a disease into action; the procatarctic cause.
   • 1685, Thomas Willis, The London Practice of Physick:

     a sudden , ſolemn , and invincible cause, without any previous Disposition or Procatarxis

References

• “procatarxis”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.