norm-, normo-

1. Expectedness as a consequence of being usual, regular, or common: The normalcy of the town was challenged by the threat of the nearby flooding river.
2. Being within certain limits that define the range of general functioning: The normalcy that Helen's friends expected of her was that she would be calm during her medical crisis.
3. The quality, or condition, of being expected, as the general economic, political, and social conditions of a nation: After months of living in a state of financial tension, everyone yearned for a return to economic normalcy.

Normalcy is used primarily to denote a regular, healthy state of affairs, politically and economically. After the war, the country slowly returned to normalcy.

The term was used by U.S. President Warren Harding and the newspapers reacted violently because in the view of many of the President's linguistically conservative fellow citizens; especially, those in the writing or academic areas, normalcy was a "barbarism" used to replace the more acceptable normality.

Before his nomination, Warren G. Harding (Twenty-ninth president, 1921-1923) declared:

President Harding said he found the word normalicy in a dictionary, which probably was true, because it was apparently in dictionaries at the time. It is said to have appeared first back in the 1850s.

In the Oxford English Dictionary on a CD, it states: "Normalcy, Chiefly U.S. = normality"; from 1857, Davies and Peck Math Dictionary.

In The New Universities Dictionary (Based on the Original Foundation of Noah Webster); Edited by Joseph Devlin M.A.; World Syndicate Company, Inc.; New York; 1925; the following entry is shown: "normalcy, normality, n. state of being normal."

1. Being within certain limits that define the range of typical functioning: The engine in the new car performed to a high degree of normality; especially, compared to other cars of the same size.
2. The way things are under regular circumstances: Sam enjoyed the normality of calmness that was so evident at the seashore.
3. A common or natural condition or a usual or accepted rule or process: The normality of everyday life appealed to Thomas after he retired.
4. A mixture of two or more substances, or liquids, in a homogenous solution: The students in the chemistry laboratory created a normality by mixing peroxide and water.
5. Commonly used to indicate an acceptable physical or mental condition: A series of psychotherapies should help restore Manfred back to normality.

1. Reduction of a process to a standard or type; such as, making something typical or in compliance with a model or a principle which has been established: The new legislation was designed to impose a normalization of the school curriculum. 2. Any process that makes something more conventional, which typically means conforming to some regularity or rule, or returning from some state of irregularity: Many of the principles of social work are intended to bring some normalization to the lives of clients who have been disturbed by a crisis.

1. To make something, or someone, conform to a standard: The chief administrator at Tom's school, Mr. Barrett, tried to normalize the school day by developing a system of in class and out of class activities.
2. To make regular or average, especially to cause someone to respond to a standard: Dr. Jones tried to normalize Janet's body temperature because it was too high caused by her flu.
3. To make a text or language regular and consistent, especially with respect to spelling or style: Using compatible dictionaries helped Kitty Hawk normalize her writing skills to meet the expectations of her editor.
4. To heat steel above a specific temperature and then to cool it in order to reduce internal stress: Helmut, the foreman at the foundry, was normalizing the steel that was to be used for the construction of the bridge.

1. In a usual manner, condition, or state; such as, in an ordinarily expected or customary manner: First thing in the morning, Anne normally went for a brisk walk in the local park.
2. In a generally accepted situation; reliable or typical; doing what would be expected: The teenagers do what is normally expected on the weekend in that they stay up late at night on Friday and sleep late on Saturday morning.

1. Pertaining, to that which reacts in a conformable manner: The ordinary or normergic response of the body to a foreign element that has penetrated the body tissues varies from a negligible reaction to a severe inflammation, as determined by the inherent toxicity of the substance and depending on the dose.
2. Concerning conventional responsiveness to stimulations: A normergic reaction is influenced by the degree of sensitivity a body has toward an allergen, depending on age and other physical factors.

Presenting a barometric pressure equivalent to a pressure at sea level: Observing that the more normobaric reading on the barometer was holding steady, Klaus was confident it was not going to rain.

An immature nucleated red blood cell similar in size to a mature erythrocyte; usually, found in the bone marrow: A normoblast is involved in producing red blood cells.

Having the morphologic characteristics of the general maturation of erythrocyte (red blood cell) precursors (substances from which other substances are formed): Dr. Rawson was trying to explain to the students that the more normoblastic a patient's blood is, the healthier he or she is.

The ordinary level of blood calcium: The doctor was pleased with Hector's normocalcemia and saw no need for any further medical recommendations.

1. The presence of a regular concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and serum: The medical students, Tim and Steve, were intent on designing a new device to measure the normocapnia in the blood of patients.
2. A healthy condition in which the CO2 levels in the arteries are standard: Dr. Alison's patient was discharged from the hospital when her carbon dioxide levels had reached a status of normocapnia.

A reference to the presence of a situation in which the arterial carbon dioxide pressure in a person's body is optimal or regular: Martin was the first patient at the blood clinic one morning and was relieved to learn he had the most normocapnic levels the blood specialist, Dr. Lawson, had seen in three weeks.

1. Average staining capacity in a cell or tissue: When studying about hemoglobin, Professor Charles stressed to his students the importance of using blood cells with good normochromasia.
2. A typical concentration of hemoglobin (blood that transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues) in erythrocytes (mature red blood cells): The blood diagnosis at the hospital indicated Peter had good normochromasia.

Having the standard color in stained blood films; used with reference to erythrocytes or erythrocyte precursors: The more normochromatic blood analyses that a patient has, the more confident the doctors are for good recoveries.

The conventional color; referring to blood in which the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells is at an expected level: Dr. Swarez, the hematologist, was pleased with the normochromia of the patient under her care.