[hy.giene] n [F hygiene & NL hygieina, fr. Gk, neut. pl. of hygieinos healthful, fr. hygies healthy; akin to Skt su well and to L vivus living--more at quick] (1671) 1: a science of the establishment and maintenance of health
2: conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health -- hy.gien.ic adj -- hy.gien.i.cal.ly adv -- hy.gien.ist n