A.Word.A.Day--gerontology

[msesheta]

Wordsmith.org

The Magic of Words

Jan 13, 2012

This week's theme
Words coined using combining forms

This week's words
duopsony
hypochondriac
dysthymia
autologous
gerontology

A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg

gerontology

PRONUNCIATION:

(jer-uhn-TOL-uh-jee)

MEANING:

noun: The scientific study of aging.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek geronto-, from geras (old age) + -logy (study). Earliest documented use: 1903.

NOTES:

Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and problems associated with old age.

USAGE:

"Emma had been on a gerontology ward where most of her patients were suffering dementia and a laundry list of physical ailments associated with advanced age."
Gary Braver; Tunnel Vision; Forge Books; 2011.

Explore "gerontology" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author and aviator (1900-1945)

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