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Today it means

geriatric

relating to the medical care of elderly people

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Where does the word "geriatric" come from? It comes from Greek geras, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

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Where does the word "geriatric" come from? It comes from Greek geras, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Geriatric’s story begins in Greek: geras meant “old age.” Old age, combined with iatrikos (relating to healing). It reached English by 1900s as geriatric. Coined for the medical treatment of older adults. Today, geriatric means relating to the medical care of elderly people.

  1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient geras "old age", old age, combined with iatrikos (relating to healing).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s geriatric "relating to the medical care of the elderly", coined for the medical treatment of older adults.

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