We are all Orthopedic, not “orthopaed-ic” or straight-child-ish… from “παιδιον”/paedion (=child) of Andry’s book for children!

There is a considerable difference between the spelling of the word «Orthopaedics» and «Orthopaedics» in fact, the first one, («Orthopaedics»), is incorrect and inaccurate; it has been widely used and copied as the correct spelling of the term to which one commonly recurs in order to refer to the profession or specialty of «Orthopaedics»; the spelling with an «ae» derives from the French term «orthopédie» used in Andry's book (written in 1741) providing instructions for the prevention of deformities in children; «orthopédie» is formed by the ancient Greek words «orthós» (straight and correct) and «paidion» or «paedion» (=child), while the correct ancient Greek etymology of the term «Orthopaedics» («Οrthopedikί» in Greek) derives from the ancient Greek word «orthós» (=straight and standing up) and the ancient Greek verb «ped-ó» (=to prevent a distortion, commit, hold strong and steady, engage with brakes, keep something motionless, bind) or, from its derivative word «pedion», with an “e”; Orthopedics comes thus, straight from the combination of two ancient Greek terms which embody and literally express, the specialty of prevention and correction of deformities, in all age groups and not only in children. The word «orthopedic-ós» (=orthopedic doctor) is the direct adjective of the ancient Greek verb «orthopodéo» (=standing up upright/raising someone upright on the ground or on the “pedion”) derived from the words «orthós» (=straight and standing up) and «pedίon» (=ground, field or soil).