n. (used with a sing. verb) The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments. [From orthopedic, from French orthopédique, from orthopédie, orthopedic surgery : Greek ortho-, ortho- + Greek paideia, child-rearing (from pais, paid-, child; see pau-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] or′tho·pedic adj. or′tho·pedi·cal·ly adv. or′tho·pedist n. |
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