-ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist

(Greek: a suffix meaning: to talk, to speak; a branch of knowledge; any science or academic field that ends in -ology which is a variant of -logy; a person who speaks in a certain manner; someone who deals with certain topics or subjects)

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.

normal histology (s) (noun), normal histologies (pl)
The study of body tissues and cells using microscopic techniques: As an undergraduate science student, Karin enjoyed her classes in normal histology and decided to pursue a medical degree.

The evolution of electronic microscopes enabled scientists of normal histology to better understand and compare healthy tissues and diseased tissues.

noseconology
The study of hospital administration.
nosetiology
The study of what causes diseases.
nosologist
A specialist in the classification of diseases.
nosology
1. The science of the classification of diseases.
2. The study of diseases and, in particular, their classification, grouping, ordering, and relationship to one another; it includes the formulation of principles for differentiating one disease from another.
3. The classification of ill people into groups, whatever the criteria for the classification, and agreement as to the boundaries of the group.

Pointing to a page about human diseases or nosology. When diseases started to become plagues is explained at this nosology page.

nostologist
One who studies senility; a gerontologist.
nostology, nostologic
1. The study of the senile stages of an organism or race of organisms.
2. The study of senility, gerontology, and geriatrics.

Based on the idea that some aspects of "later life [senility] is somewhat like returning to early years".

nucleocosmochronology (s) (noun) (no pl)
A technique that attempts to estimate the age of astronomical objects: Dr. Star used the method of nucleocosmochronology to measure the relative abundances of isotopes (any of two or more atoms of an element having the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons in its nucleus) in his research.
numerologist (s) (noun), numerologists (pl)
A believer or someone who practices the art of predicting the future based on mathematical quantities that are related to a person's birthday: Gerald, the numerologist, told Maurice that his book would be a successful publication and financially rewarding for him.
numerology (s) (noun), numerologies (pl)
1. The study of digits, as the figures designating the year of a person's birth, to determine their supposed influence on his or her life, future, etc.: Shane's interest in numerology came about because he was influenced by his aunt who convinced him that she could predict his future.
2. The study of the occult meanings of numbers and their supposed influence on human life: Numerology is the study of the mystical or esoteric relationships between digital notations and the character or action of physical objects and living things.

The numerologies of divination were popular among early mathematicians; such as, Pythagoras, but they are no longer considered to be part of mathematics and so they are now regarded as a pseudoscience by most mathematicians.

The beliefs in numerology are similar to the historical development of astronomy which is separated from astrology; as well as, that of chemistry from alchemy.

The occult significance of numbers and their supposedly influence on human beings.
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numismatology
oceanologist (s) (noun), oceanologists (pl)
An individual who specializes in the scientific study of oceans: Tom, an oceanologist, did research on the life that inhabits the seas and the physical characteristics of the seas, including the depth and extent of sea waters, their movement and chemical makeup, and the topography and composition of the sea floors.
oceanology (s) (noun) (no pl)
1. The branch of oceanography that deals with how oceans may be used for economic or technological purposes: In his science book, Bill learned about how oceanology involved financial trade among nations as well as the biological aspects of sea life.
2. The explorations and scientific studies of all aspects of the ocean: Oceanology includes geophysical phenomena, underseas exploration, and oceanography.
oculist, optician, ophthalmologist, optometrist
oculist (AHK yuh list) (noun)
An individual who may be a medically trained person and whose specialty is to test someone's vision and to prescribe corrective lenses: The office for Marina's oculist is very convenient to where she works so she can get her eyes tested during her lunch break."
optician (ahp TISH uhn) (noun)
1. An individual who makes or sells equipment for the assessment, etc. of eyes: Jason's new job is as an optician, working for a large company which makes optical equipment.
2. An individual who grinds the lenses for eyeglasses according to a prescription: To be an optician requires a careful and steady hand when operating the equipment to grind the lenses for spectacles.
ophthalmologist (ahf" thuhl MAHL uh jist, ahp" thuhl MAHL uh jist) (noun)
A medical doctor who specializes in the diseases, functions, and structures of the eyes: Myrna's cousin was inspired to be an ophthalmologist after his mother had lost her eyesight.
optometrist (ahp TAHM i trist) (noun)
An individual skilled and trained to test for defects in vision and to prescribe corrective spectacles: The local optometrist placed his certificates of training and education on his office wall so people would feel confident in his abilities to examine their eyes properly.

Years ago, the oculist was like a travelling salesperson who would come to a person's door; open a suitcase, and demonstrate the wares.

Now, someone can go in for more specialized services: A person can be referred by his or her optometrist to see an ophthalmologist if the optometrist suspects she or he has an eye disease.

If the ophthalmologist gives someone a prescription for new glasses, he or she can go to the optician to have the prescription filled.

odontologist
Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "talk, speak, speech; words, language; tongue, etc.": cit-; clam-; dic-; fa-; -farious; glosso-; glotto-; lalo-; linguo-; locu-; logo-; loqu-; mythico-; ora-; -phasia; -phemia; phon-; phras-; Quotes: Language,Part 1; Quotes: Language, Part 2; Quotes: Language, Part 3; serm-; tongue; voc-.