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hygiene definition

hy·giene (hī′jēn′, hī jēn′)

noun

  1. the science of health and its maintenance; system of principles for the preservation of health and prevention of disease
  2. sanitary practices; cleanliness personal hygiene

Etymology: Fr hygiène < Gr hygieinē (technē), (art) of health < hygiēs, healthy, sound < IE *su-gwiyēs, living well < base *su-, well ( > Sans su-, well) + base *gwei-, to live > Gr bios, life, L vivus, living

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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