Cat`a*lec"tic (?), a. [L. catalecticus, Gr. incomplete, fr. to leave off; down, wholly + to stop.]
1. Pros.
Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.
2. Photog. & Chem.
Incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance.
Abney.
© Webster 1913.