Brutism

/ˈbruːtɪzəm/ noun

Definition

A medical condition characterized by involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth, now usually called bruxism.

Etymology

From brute + -ism (suffix denoting a condition or practice). An older medical term, now superseded by bruxism from Greek brychein (to gnash).

Kelly Says

Brutism is an obsolete medical term that lost out to the Greek-derived 'bruxism'—modern medicine preferred the Greek root, showing how scientific vocabulary standardizes around certain language sources.

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