† ˈseptan, a.
[ad. mod.L. septāna (febris), tr. Gr. πυρετὸς ἑβδοµαῖος (Galen), f. L. sept-em seven: see -an.]
Designating a fever of which the paroxysms recur every sixth (according to old reckoning, every seventh) day.
| 1657 Expert Physician 123 The Quintan, Sextan, Septan, and Nonan Feavers. 1747 tr. Astruc's Fevers 63 A septan, being really a quartan, of whose paroxysms none are perceptable, but those of every 7th day. |