-ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist
The word -ology is a back-formation from the names of certain disciplines. The -logy element basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), "to speak".
The suffix -ology is considered to be misleading sometimes as when the "o" is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending; such as, bio + logy.
Through the years -ology and -logy have come to mean, "study of" or "science of" and either of these suffixes often utilize the form of -ologist, "one who (whatever the preceding element refers to)".
The examples shown in this unit represent just a small fraction of the many words that exist in various dictionaries.
chiropodology
A treatise on corns, warts, defective nails, etc., on feet or hands.
choledology
Learning about or studying the common bile duct.
chondropathology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The study of the diseases of cartilage: The discipline of
chondropathology pertains to the disorders of the firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at the joints.
A more flexible kind of cartilage connects muscles with bones and makes up other parts of the body, such as the larynx and the outside parts of the ears.
choreology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The analysis and study of the aesthetics involved with dancers' or other human movements by the method of notation: In class, Susan learned a lot about choreology that she would need later on in her career of composing musicals.
chorology
(s) (noun), chorologies
(pl)
The scientific study of the geographical extent or limits of anything: The
chorology of organisms, is the study of the geographical and topographical distribution of animal and vegetable species.
Chorology is the science dealing with the laws of distribution of living organisms over the Earth's surface as to latitude, altitude, locality, etc.
Chorology is also the study of the causal relations between geographical phenomena occurring within a particular region.
In addition, chorology is concerned with the spatial distribution of organisms.
chronobiology
(s) (noun), chronobiologies
(pl)
The scientific study of the effect of time on living systems:
Chronobiology is that aspect of biology that is concerned with the timing of biological events, especially repetitive or cyclic phenomena in individual organisms.
Chronobiology can also pertain to the biological rhythm of a woman's menstruation that repeats itself almost every 4 weeks.
chronology
(s) (noun), chronologies
(pl)
1. The science of computing and adjusting time or periods of time (no pl): A chronology involves the recording and the arrangement of events in the order of time, the computation of time, and the assignation of events to their correct dates.
2. A chronological table, list, or treatise: In the library Tom finally found the historical chronologies of the German castles he was going to visit in the summer.
3. A series of past events in the sequence of when they occurred: Jack gave his friend Grace a report of the chronology of his visit to the mayor of the city.
chronooncology
(s) (noun), chronooncologies
(pl)
An anticancer treatment based on the timing of drug administration: In addition, chronooncology also concerns the research dealing with the influence of biologic rhythms on new and abnormal growth of cells, or tumors.
chronopharmacology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
A branch of chronobiology concerned with the effects of drugs upon the timing of biological events and rhythms, and the relation of biological timing to the effects of drugs: Chronopharmacology is concerned with the differences in the reaction of biological methods to drugs at various times.
chthononosology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The distribution of diseases in a geographical sense: In medical school, Alice took a class in chthononosology and learned about all kinds of disorders and illnesses, and how and where they spread throughout the world.
classical archaeology, classical archeology
(s) (noun); classical archaeologies; classical archeologies
(pl)
A field within historical archaeology specializing in the study of Old World Greek and Roman civilizations, their antecedents, and their contemporaries: Many archaelolgists were interested in studying classical archaeology describing the societies they had perused in written works in Greek and Latin.
