Anxiety is the most common culprit for persons with this habit.

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DEFINITION:

Noun

1. the habit of nail biting

ETYMOLOGY/ORIGIN:

Greek
("onycho", [onyx - a nail, claw)and ("-phagy" - eating, devouring)
Coined by Obstetrician, William Dorland (1864-1956)
Related to "onychophagie", French, and "onicofagia", Italian

PRONUNCIATION:

än-i-'käf-ə-jē
Listen

SCRABBLE SCORE:
28! WOO-HOO!

USAGE/EXAMPLES:

Onychophagy (oni-kof-aji). Onychophagy (oni-kof-aji). Onychophagy (oni-kof-aji). This is probably the most common condition a Nail Technician will encounter.

--Essential Nails: How to Create Great Nails
published by Essential Nails Products Ltd., 2002

M. Bertillon now tells us that biting the nails is a sign of degeneracy and gives it the hard name of " onychophagy."

--The American Homeopathist, Volume 19
edited by Frank Kraft, M.D., 1893

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Have you ever successfully broken the habit of ONYCHOPHAGIA? If so, tell us how you did it in the comments below and possibly help someone who could use some advice!

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