masseter
[ma-see-ter]
- a short, thick, masticatory muscle, the action of which assists in closing the jaws by raising the mandible or lower jaw.
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Origin of masseter
1660–70; < New Latin < Greek massētḗr, variant of masētḗr chewer, masseter, equivalent to masē-, variant stem of masâsthai to chew + -tēr agentive suffix
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for masseter
Historical Examples
The muscles of this group which specially interest us are the masseter and the temporal.
Artistic Anatomy of Animalsdouard Cuyer
Like the masseter, the temporal is an elevator of the lower jaw.
Artistic Anatomy of Animalsdouard Cuyer
There is often a very much enlarged infra-orbital foramen through which passes a part of the masseter muscle.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., MammaliaFrank Evers Beddard
This ridge presumably marks the upper limits of the origin of the masseter from the squamosal.
Presumably the muscle was sheetlike and attached to the skull roof, medial to the attachment of the masseter.
masseter
- anatomy a muscle of the cheek used in moving the jaw, esp in chewing
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Word Origin
C17: from New Latin from Greek masētēr one who chews, from masāsthai to chew
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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