Edentulous
/ɪˈdɛn.tʃə.ləs/noun
Lacking teeth.
Did you know?Edentulous comes from Latin *edentulus*, a diminutive form built from *e-* (“without”) + *dens* (“tooth”), so even its structure is a precise anatomical negation rather than a spooky metaphor.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
edentulus
“toothless; lacking teeth”
Late Latin
Latin
edentulus
“used in anatomical and descriptive contexts for toothless creatures or conditions”
18th Century
English
edentulous
“having no teeth; toothless”
Modern English
English
edentulous
“lacking teeth, especially as a medical or anatomical description”