ˈhīˌjēn sometimes ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: French hygiène & New Latin hygiena, hygieina, from Greek hygieinē, feminine of hygieinos healthful, relating to health, from hygiēs sound, healthy, from a prehistoric compound whose first and second constituents respectively are akin to Old Irish so- good, well, Old Slavic sŭ dravŭ healthy, Avestan hu- good, well, Sanskrit su and to Lithuanian gyvas living — more at quick
1. : the science which deals with the establishment and maintenance of health in the individual and the group
took a course in municipal hygiene
2. : conditions or practices conducive to health
infant mortality was very high because of bad hygiene and the lack of nourishing foods — P.E.James