-theticcomb. form

Primary stress is attracted to the first syllable of this combining form and vowels may be reduced accordingly.
Origin: A borrowing from Greek. Etymons: Greek -θετικός, θετικός.
Etymology: Ultimately  <  ancient Greek -θετικός, combining form (in e.g. νομοθετικός  nomothetic adj.)  <  θετικός that can be placed  <  θε-  , stem of τιθέναι   to place + -τικός  , suffix forming adjectives from verbs; compare -ic suffix. Compare ancient Greek θέσις   (see thesis n.). Compare post-classical Latin -theticus   (forms in which are found from the 16th cent., e.g. nomotheticus  ). Compare -thetical comb. form.Found in borrowings ultimately from Greek from the 17th cent., e.g. antithetic adj., nomothetic adj., and also in analogous formations after words in -thesis  , e.g. antimetathetic adj.   Such formations become more common in the 19th cent., e.g. parathetic adj., mesothetic adj.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online September 2018).