'edentulous' originates from New Latin 'edentulus', specifically the Latin elements 'ē-' meaning 'without' and 'dent-' meaning 'tooth'.

'edentulous' was borrowed from New Latin 'edentulus' into English (modern borrowings from scientific/medical Latin), becoming the modern English adjective 'edentulous'.

Initially, it meant 'without teeth' in Latin/medical usage, and over time it has retained that basic meaning in modern English.