— masseteric /mas'i ter"ik/ , adj.
/ma see"teuhr/ , n. Anat.
a short, thick, masticatory muscle, the action of which assists in closing the jaws by raising the mandible or lower jaw.
[ 1660-70; massetér, var. of MASETÉR chewer, masseter, equiv. to mase-, var. s. of masâsthai to chew + -ter agentive suffix ]