gerontic

English

WOTD – 4 June 2008

Etymology

First attested in the late 19th century. From Ancient Greek γέρων (gérōn, “old man”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dʒɛˈɹɒnt.ɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒɛˈɹɑːnt.ɪk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

gerontic (comparative more gerontic, superlative most gerontic)

1. Of or pertaining to old age or the elderly.
   • 1982, Prisca von Dorotka Bagnell, Gerontology and Geriatrics Collections, Haworth Press, →ISBN, page 5:

     The gerontic population of the U.S., those of 65 and over, numbered 3.1 million in 1900.

   • 2004, Rhonda Nay, Sally Garratt, Nursing Older People: Issues and Innovations, Elsevier Australia, →ISBN, page 340:

     Academic staff from schools of nursing across Australia were asked to contribute information about their current funded research in gerontic nursing, and also to provide their thoughts on what issues future research projects within gerontic nursing should address.

   • 2003, Maurice Cowling, Religion and Public Doctrine in Modern England, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 19:

     previously there had been gerontic oligarchy

2. (biology) Of or pertaining to senescent animals or plants.
   • 2004, Richa Arora, Encyclopaedia of Evolutionary Biology, Anmol Publications PVT, →ISBN, page 139:

     Then the gerontic or senescent portion is seen, recognizable by an increasing simplicity, comparable to that of the neanic shell but retrogressive rather than progressive in the assumption of characters.

Translations

of or pertaining to old age or the elderly

• Polish: gerontyczny, starczy (pl)

of or pertaining to senescent animals or plants

References

• 2005, Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised), Oxford University Press, →ISBN