Osteopathy
/ˌɑːstiˈɑːpəθi/noun
A system of medicine and manual therapy that emphasizes the musculoskeletal system and the body’s self-healing processes.
Did you know?The term was coined in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, who formed it from Greek roots meaning “bone” and “suffering/disease,” giving the practice a name that sounds like a diagnosis before it became a profession.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
osteon
“bone”
Ancient Greek
Greek
pathos
“suffering, disease, feeling”
1874
English
osteopathy
“Andrew Taylor Still coins the term for his new system of healing based on manipulation of the bones and muscles”
19th Century
English
osteopath
“a practitioner of osteopathy”
Modern English
English
osteopathy
“a form of manual therapy and medical practice focused on the musculoskeletal system”