geriatric
ˌdʒɛriˈætrɪk
adjective
Origin
Ancient Greek
gēras — old age
Overview
Meaning Now
- Relating to old people, especially with regard to their healthcare.
- Relating to the branch of medicine or social science dealing with the health and care of old people.
Literal older meaning
relating to old age
Language path
Ancient Greek → New Latin → English
Earliest form
geriatrics
Earliest period
1914
Journey
The term was coined by Ignatz Nascher in 1914 to define the medical specialty focused on the aging process, paralleling the existing term 'pediatrics', which focuses on the health of children.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
gēras
“old age”
- Ancient Greek
iatrikos
“medical”
derivative of iatros (physician)
- 1914 Modern English
geriatrics
“medical specialty for the elderly”
modelled after pediatrics
Connections
Word parts
ger-
root
old age
-iatr-
root
healing or medicine
-ic
suffix
relating to
Related across languages
Ancient Greek
gerōn
old man
Explore next
Related to geriatric
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.