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eth·moid

(ĕthmoid′) also eth·moi·dal (ĕth-moidl)

adj.

Of, relating to, or being a light spongy bone located between the ocular orbits, forming part of the walls and septum of the superior nasal cavity, and containing numerous perforations for the passage of the fibers of the olfactory nerves.

The ethmoid bone.

[French ethmoïde, from Greek ēthmoeidēs, sievelike : ēthmos, strainer (from ēthein, to sift) + -oeidēs, -oid.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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