Otic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈəʊ.tɪk/

Definitions

1. relating to or located near the ear
2. Pertaining to the ear or the area around it
3. Having a connection with the ear's structure or function

Etymology: The Greek word "ous" meant "ear," and its Latinized form, "oticus," was taken into English in the mid-1600s, when physicians and anatomists needed precise terms for the parts of the body. The adjective is built from the Greek stem "ōt-" plus the common adjectival suffix "-ikos," which gives the sense "of or for the ear," the same pattern found in words like "technical" and "music." Its most useful relative is "otic" itself, which, unlike many anatomical terms, has barely changed in form since it arrived. Medical writers use it in phrases such as "otic ganglion," where the adjective simply tells you which part of the body is meant, without the vagueness of everyday speech.

Synonyms: auditory, aural, hearing, acoustic, ear-related

Antonyms: non-auditory, silent, inaudible, dumb, deaf