treatment | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

treatment (n.)

1560s, "conduct or behavior toward someone or something," from treat (v.) + -ment. In the medical sense, it is first recorded 1744.

maltreatment (n.)

"rough, rude, or unkind treatment, abuse," 1721, from French maltraitement or formed in English from mal- + treatment.

polyclinic (n.)

"place for treatment of, or instruction in the treatment of, various diseases," 1890, from poly- "many" + clinic. The spelling distinguishes it from policlinic.

-iatry

word-forming element meaning "medical treatment," from French -iatrie, from Greek iatreia "healing, medical treatment" (see -iatric).

-pathy

word-forming element meaning "feeling, suffering, emotion; disorder, disease," from Latin -pathia, from Greek -patheia "act of suffering, feeling" (from PIE root *kwent(h)- "to suffer"). Meaning "system of treatment of disease, method, cure, curative treatment" is abstracted from homeopathy (q.v.).

desecration (n.)

"sacrilegious treatment, act of diverting from a hallowed purpose or use," 1717, noun of action from desecrate (v.).

radiotherapy (n.)

"treatment of disease by means of x-rays," 1902, from radio- + therapy.

physiotherapy (n.)

"treatment of disease, injury, etc. by physical methods," 1905, from physio- + therapy. Related: Physiotherapist; physiotherapeutic.

illing (n.)

"evil-doing, malevolent treatment," early 13c., verbal noun from ill (v.).

after-care (n.)

"care given after a course of medical treatment," 1854, from after + care (n.).

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