geriatrician
UK[ˌdʒer.i.əˈtrɪʃ.ən]US[ˌdʒer.i.əˈtrɪʃ.ən]
n
A doctor who specializes in the medical care and treatment of old people.
Morpheme Breakdown
geriatr
ician
geriatr
old age, medical treatment
ician
specialist
Etymology
The word 'geriatrician' is a modern 20th-century formation built upon the established medical discipline of 'geriatrics'. The core element 'geriatr-' itself combines the Greek 'geras' (old age) and 'iatros' (physician, healer), literally meaning "a healer of old age." The suffix '-ician', entering English via French from Latin, consistently denotes a skilled practitioner. Thus, the term's logic is transparent: a geriatrician is a specialist (-ician) in the branch of medicine (iatros) concerned with the health of the elderly (geras).
Analysis
Structure: geriatr (old age, medical treatment) + ician (specialist)
- geriatr: From Greek 'geras' (old age) via the modern medical term 'geriatrics'. Functions as the core root denoting the field of medicine related to aging.
- ician: A suffix of French/Latin origin ('-icius'), used to form nouns meaning a specialist or practitioner in a particular field.
Examples
The geriatrician developed a comprehensive care plan to manage her patient's multiple chronic conditions.
After his fall, my grandfather was referred to a hospital geriatrician for assessment.
She decided to become a geriatrician because of her passion for improving the quality of life for the elderly.