The care and cosmetic treatment of hands and fingernails, or the action of giving this treatment.
From Latin 'manus' (hand) and 'cura' (care). First used in English in the 1870s when nail care became a fashionable cosmetic practice. The word is a perfect example of Latin combining forms being used for modern inventions.
Your fingernails actually grow about 3 millimeters per month, and they reveal a lot about your health—doctors check nails for signs of anemia, infection, and heart disease. That's why they're worth more than just cosmetic attention.
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