menton

See also: Menton and mentón

English

Etymology

From French menton (“chin”). Doublet of mentum.

Noun

menton (plural mentons)

1. (anatomy) The lowest point of the chin / mandibular symphysis.

   Synonym: gnathion

Derived terms

• mentonian

Esperanto

Noun

menton

1. accusative singular of mento

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French menton, mentun, from Vulgar Latin *mentō (accusative *mentōnem), from Classical Latin mentum. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to project”). Compare Occitan menton, Catalan mentó, Romansch mintun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɑ̃.tɔ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

menton m (plural mentons)

1. chin
   • 1922, Jules Romains, Les Copains:

     On put remarquer qu’il avait des petits yeux en amande, et qu’un pli vertical faisait de son menton un derrière de bébé.

     One could note that he had little almond eyes, and that a vertical line made his chin the bottom of a baby.

   • 1934, Jean Guéhenno, Journal d’un homme de 40 ans, Grasset:

     Il avait des yeux noirs perçants qui souriaient volontiers, l’air droit et intelligent, un grand front, des pommettes saillantes – mais pas de menton, ce qui eût dû rassurer les puissants, s’il est vrai que le menton proéminent est le signe des fermes volontés.

     He had piercing black eyes that smiled easily, a proper and intelligent look, a large forehead, prominent cheekbones—but no chin, which must have reassured the powerful men, if it is true that a prominent chin is a sign of a firm will.

Derived terms

• double menton
• mentonnière (“chinstrap”)

Descendants

• → English: menton
• → Esperanto: mentono
  • Ido: mentono
• → Spanish: mentón

Further reading

• “menton”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Occitan

Etymology

From Old Occitan, from Vulgar Latin *mentō (accusative *mentōnem), from Classical Latin mentum.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

menton m (plural mentons)

1. chin

Old French

Alternative forms

• mentun

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin *mentō (accusative *mentōnem), from Classical Latin mentum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /menˈtun/

Noun

menton oblique singular, m (oblique plural mentons, nominative singular mentons, nominative plural menton)

1. chin
2. (by extension) chinguard (of a helmet)

Descendants

• French: menton
  • → English: menton
  • → Esperanto: mentono
    • Ido: mentono
  • → Spanish: mentón