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wisdom tooth definition

wisdom tooth

the back tooth on each side of each jaw in human beings; any of the four third molars appearing usually between the ages of 17 and 25

Etymology: calque of ModL dentes sapientiae, based on Gr sōphronistēres < sōphronein, to be of sound mind: from their late appearance

wisdom tooth Idioms

cut one's wisdom teeth

to arrive at the age of discretion

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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