-ic

-ic

suff.

1. Of, relating to, or characterized by: seismic.

2. Having a valence higher than that of a specified element in compounds or ions named with adjectives ending in -ous: sulfuric acid.

3. One relating to or characterized by: academic.

---

[Middle English, from Old French -ique, from Latin -icus and from Greek -ikos.]

---

-ic

suffix forming adjectives

1. of, relating to, or resembling allergic Germanic periodic See also -ical

2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) (in chemistry) indicating that an element is chemically combined in the higher of two possible valence states ferric stannic Compare -ous [2]

[from Latin -icus or Greek -ikos; -ic also occurs in nouns that represent a substantive use of adjectives (magic) and in nouns borrowed directly from Latin or Greek (critic, music)]