orthodontics (n.)

"orthodontia, the branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of irregularities of the teeth and jaws," 1909, from orthodontic (adj.); also see -ics.

Entries linking to orthodontics

orthodontic (adj.)

"serving to correct the positions of the teeth," 1905, from orthodontia + -ic.

-ics

in the names of sciences or disciplines (acoustics, aerobics, economics, etc.), a 16c. revival of the classical custom of using the neuter plural of adjectives with Greek -ikos "pertaining to" (see -ic) to mean "matters relevant to" and also as the titles of treatises about them. Subject matters that acquired their English names before c. 1500, however, tend to be singular in form (arithmetic, logic, magic, music, rhetoric). The grammatical number of words in -ics (mathematics is/mathematics are) is a confused question.

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updated on October 02, 2019

Definitions of orthodontics from WordNet

orthodontics (n.)

the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth;

Synonyms: orthodontia / orthodonture / dental orthopedics / dental orthopaedics

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near orthodontics

Orson

ort

ortho-

orthodontia

orthodontic

orthodontics

orthodontist

orthodox

orthodoxy

orthognathous

orthogonal