Meanings
- rareuncountableThe science of putting people to death.
On 21 and 22 January Alexander met Ivy to discuss the issue of ktenology.
2004, P. Weindling, Nazi Medicine and the Nuremberg Trials2 more examples
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 […]
1948, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, volume 108, page 348Abortion—part of ktenology, the science of killing—not genuine health care
2009, Rita Joseph, Human Rights and the Unborn Child, page 99
Origin
Coined by Leo Alexander (1905–1985), American psychiatrist and neurologist, from Ancient Greek roots.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
ktenology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ktenology
“ktenology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ktenology. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ktenology,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ktenology.
Source: ktenology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.