mesiodistal

Meanings

1. Of or relating to the mesial and distal surfaces of a tooth
2. In the description of languages with a four-way distinction for demonstratives, refers to a demonstrative which indicates something near neither the speaker nor the addressee, but not too far off from either one.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *me Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰe Proto-Indo-European *médʰi Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos Proto-Hellenic *métsos Ancient Greek μέσος (mésos)der. English mesio- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *sth₂éh₁yeti Proto-Italic *staēōder. Latin stō Latin distō Latin distānsder. Old French distantbor. Middle English distaunt English distant Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English distal English mesiodistal From mesio- + distal.