- hygiene
- 1671, from Fr. hygiène, ult. from Gk. hygieine techne "the healthful art," from hygies "healthy," lit. "living well" (personified as the goddess Hygieia), from PIE *eyu-gwie-es- "having a vigorous life." The Gk. adj. was used by Aristotle as a noun meaning "health." Hygienic is 1833 borrowing of Fr. hygiénique.