Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who sets broken bones: A bonesetter is someone who treats and fixes broken or fractured bones. This person may not necessarily be a formally licensed medical doctor or surgeon.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In the remote village, the local bonesetter was the only person who could help with injuries.
  • Before modern orthopedics, a bonesetter was a crucial figure in many communities.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical or traditional medical contexts, distinguishing the practice from modern, licensed orthopedics.
  • The practice of the bonesetter relied heavily on experience and manual skill.

Variants and Related Words

• Bonesetting (n): The act, practice, or skill of setting broken bones.
  • Traditional bonesetting is still practiced in some cultures.

Synonyms

• Healer: A person who treats ailments, especially in a traditional way.
• Practitioner: A person actively engaged in a discipline or profession, such as medicine.

Notes on Meaning

• The definition emphasizes that a bonesetter is "someone (not necessarily a licensed physician)." This highlights a key distinction: while performing a similar function to an orthopedic surgeon, a bonesetter typically operates outside the formal, licensed medical establishment, often based on tradition or apprenticeship.

Noun

1. someone (not necessarily a licensed physician) who sets broken bones