ktenology

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Coined by Leo Alexander (1905–1985), American psychiatrist and neurologist, from Ancient Greek roots.

Noun[edit]

ktenology (uncountable)

  1. (rare) The science of putting people to death.
    • 1948, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, volume 108, page 348:
      The triumph of ktenology was reached in the development by Professor Dr. Heissmeyer, one of Dr. Gebhardt's associates at the SS hospital of Hohenlychen, of intravenous injections of a suspension of live tubercle bacilli […]
    • 2004, P. Weindling, Nazi Medicine and the Nuremberg Trials:
      On 21 and 22 January Alexander met Ivy to discuss the issue of ktenology.
    • 2009, Rita Joseph, Human Rights and the Unborn Child, page 99:
      Abortion—part of ktenology, the science of killing—not genuine health care
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