-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.
dinosaurology
The study of dinosaurs.
dipterology
A two-winged insect of the order Diptera, some species of which transmit arboviruses to humans.
dittology
(s) (noun) dittologies
(pl)
Two, or more, different interpretations of the same text: "The English exam at the end of the term included poetry of which all of the students were expected to explain the meanings and the teacher was amazed at how many different dittologies were produced by them."
dogmatology
The science of dogma.
dolorology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The scientific study of pain:
Dolorology is a medical specialty concerned with the study and treatment of pain.
Dolorology is the systematic study of the mechanisms and management of pain.
domatologist
(s) (noun), domatologists
(pl)
1. A person who studies houses: Rose was very interested in all kinds of houses, like duplexes, farmhouses, lodges, mansions, etc., and decided to become a domatologist and later be able to give advice to people who wanted to buy such a dwelling.
2. A professional housekeeper: The elderly and frail Mrs. Grant decided to hire a domatologist to help her with keeping her house clean and tidy.
domatology
(s) (noun), domatologies
(pl)
The science or study of houses: Jack hoped to find an institute or college that had a department in domatology so that he could learn more about all kinds of past, present, and possibly future residences.
doxology
A short formula (hymn or statement) of praise to God; especially, one in liturgical use; specifically, the Gloria in excelsis or “Greater doxology”, the Gloria Patri or “Lesser doxology”, or some metrical formula, such as the verse beginning “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
dysmorphology
1. A branch of science dealing with the study of congenitally deformed fetuses; also teratology.
2. A branch of clinical genetics concerned with the diagnosis and interpretation of patterns of the three types of structural defects: malformation, disruption, and deformation.
dysteleology
1. The study of apparently useless organs or parts.
2. A lack of purposefulness, or of a contribution to the final result.
3. The doctrine of purposelessness or of the absence of a final cause.
ecclesiologist
(s) (noun), ecclesiologists
(pl)
Someone who specializes in theological doctrines relating to churches: "Abraham was an ecclesiologist who studied theology as it was applied to the nature and structure of Christian Churches."
ecclesiology
(s) (noun), ecclesiologies
(pl)
1. The branch of theology that is concerned with the nature, constitution, and doctrines of churches.
2. The study of ecclesiastical architecture and ornamentation.
eccrinology
A branch of physiology that deals with secretion and secretory organs.
ecobiology
The study of the relationships of organisms to their natural environments.
ecoclimate, ecoclimatology
The climate as an ecological factor; the climate of a habitat.
