-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.
pelology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The study of mud and its therapeutic applications: Mark not only learned about mud and its components in penology, but also wanted to examine the possibilities of its beneficial relevance in treatments.
pelycology
The study of the pelvis, particularly in relation to pregnancy and labor during delivery of the fetus.
penologist
(s) (noun), penologists
(pl)
Someone who studies or is an expert in the theory and practice of prison management: Tom's uncle was a penologist who was involved in the treatment of crime and the organisation in prisons.
penology, poenology
(s) (noun) (no pl)
The study, theory, and practice of prison management and criminal rehabilitation: Penology is a penitentiary science which is concerned with the processes devised and adopted for the punishment, repression, and prevention of crime, and the treatment of prisoners.
perinatologist
(s) (noun), perinatologists
(pl)
An obstetrical expert or subspecialist concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications: Because Rose was older than normal for expecting her first baby, she was cared for by a
perinatologist in the hospital, who made sure that she received any medical treatment necessary before giving birth to her newborn.
A perinatologist logically could be an obstetrician or pediatrician, but in practice, a perinatologist is an obstetrician.
The comparable area of pediatrics is neonatology. A high-risk baby might be cared for by a perinatologist before birth and by a neonatologist after birth.
perinatology
(s) (noun) (not comparable)
1. A subspecialty of obstetrics concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications: Since Kitty loved babies and little children she decided to study
perinatology and work as a doctor later on.
Since the perinatal period, depending on the definition, starts at the 20th to 28th week of gestation and ends one to four weeks after birth, perinatology logically could be an obstetrical and pediatric subspecialty, but in practice, it is part of obstetrics.
The comparable area of pediatrics is "neonatology". A high-risk baby might be cared for by a "perinatologist" before birth and by a "neonatologist" after birth.
2. Etymology: The word perinatology is a linguistic combination of the Greek peri-, "around" or "about" plus natal from the Latin natus, "born" plus ology from the Greek logos, "treatise" or "study of".
periodontology
The branch of dentistry that deals with the scientific study of the structures and functions of the periodontium in health and disease; broader in scope than periodontics, which is limited to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease, although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
perissology
(s) (noun), perissologies
(pl)
1. The use of more words than are necessary to give meaning or understanding about what is being said; pleonasm: When Greg's mother asked the plumber what went wrong with the water not coming out from the faucets, his
perissology confused her so much that she had no idea what he was talking about.
2. Etymology: from Greek,
perissologos and from Latin
perissologia, "speaking too much".
© ALL rights are reserved.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
pestology
The study of pests.
petrologist
(s) (noun), petrologists
(pl)
A person who is a specialist in the field of large and small boulders: A famous petrologist was invited to be a guest speaker at Calvin's university and to give a talk about the composition and texture of igneous matter; such as, slate, marble, granite, and schist or fine-grained sandstone, etc.
petrology
(s) (noun), petrologies
(pl)
The scientific study of stones: Petrology includes the academic research of the occurrence, the chemical composition and classification of quartz, geodes, chalk, obsidian, etc.
phagologist
A specialist in eating and the study of eating or ingesting foods.
phagology
1. The study of eating, consuming, or feeding.
2. Dietetic studies.
