Rhytid

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A wrinkle, crease, or fold that appears on the surface of skin
2. A ridge or furrow formed in the skin, typically as a result of aging or repeated movement
3. A crease or line that develops on the skin through natural aging or facial expression

Etymology: "Rhytid" is the Greek word "rhutís", meaning a wrinkle, and it entered English as a technical term for the folds of skin, the sort of word that stayed in the clinic rather than the dictionary of everyday speech. The Greek noun comes from the verb "rhuein" or the related root for drawing together or shrinking, so the image is of skin pulled into creases, which is also what the word still describes. Its use today is almost entirely medical and cosmetic. A physician might speak of rhytids when describing lines on the face, a sense that keeps the ancient idea of the crease while leaving behind any ordinary wrinkling of cloth or paper.