Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ

Jul 26, 2001

This week's theme
Less-known counterparts of everyday words

This week's words
epizootic
anile
estivate
thegosis
trilemma

Got a website?
Free content for your site
Words, quotations & more

---

Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML

---

thegosis

thegosis (THE-go-sis) noun

Grinding of teeth as a means of sharpening them.

[From Greek thegos, to sharpen.]

(Bruxism is the word for night-time grinding of teeth.)

"Dr Scally says, 'If you nearly had an accident, and you're rattled. Or you've found your partner has been unfaithful and you want to kill her, but you're not allowed to because this society says you shouldn't. But the violent, murderous feelings are still there and the weapon-sharpening thegosis will accompany them.'"
Yvonne Martin; Jaw Grinders Preparing to Meet Enemies; The Dominion (New Zealand); Jul 1, 1998.

Bruxism is the word for the phenomenon of teeth-grinding while sleeping.

X-Bonus