n.
Pronunciation: ' h ī - ˌ j ē n also h ī - '
Function: noun
Etymology: French hygiène & New Latin hygieina, from Greek, neuter plural of hygieinos healthful, from hygi ē s healthy; akin to Sanskrit su well and to Latin vivus living ― more at QUICK
Date: 1671
1 : a science of the establishment and maintenance of health
2 : conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health
– hy · gien · ist \ h ī - ' j ē -nist, ' h ī - ˌ j ē -, h ī - ' je- \ noun