Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “orthodontic” come from?

Orthodontic derives from English orthodontics, formed by English -ics applied to English ortho- and odont-, which traces through Proto-Hellenic ortʰwós and Proto-Indo-European h₃r̥dʰwós from the root h₃erdʰ-.

orthodontic (English): Of, or relating to the dental speciality of...

Definitions

  1. Of, or relating to the dental speciality of...

Ancestry of “orthodontic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishorthodontiaorthodontics
2English-odontia
3English-iaUsed in forming names of countries, diseases,...
4Latin-iaUsed to form a feminine abstract noun, usually...
5Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
6Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
7Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

Words derived from “orthodontic”

  • orthodontist
  • orthodontically
  • ortho
  • orthodontist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós →