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hy·giene

(hījēn′)

1. The science that deals with the promotion and preservation of health. Also called hygienics.

2. Conditions and practices that serve to promote or preserve health: hygiene in the workplace; personal hygiene.

[French hygiène and New Latin hygieina, both from Greek hugieinē (tekhnē), (art) of health, feminine of hugieinos, relating to health, healthful, from hugiēs, healthy; see aiw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

hy·gienist (hī-jēnĭst, hījē′-, hī-jĕnĭst) n.

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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