-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.
2. Radiology, the science of radiation and, specifically, the use of both ionizing (like X-ray) and nonionizing (like ultrasound) modalities for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Roentgenology is named for Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen who discovered X-rays. Roentgen, a professor of physics in Germany, wanted to prove his hypothesis that cathode rays could penetrate substances besides air.
When he saw that he could film his thumb and forefinger and their bones on a screen, the story goes that he replaced the screen with a photographic plate and X-rayed his wife's hand.
Roentgen's report of his findings, "On a New Kind of Rays", was published by the Physical-Medical Society of Würzburg, Germany, in December 1895.
In the U.S., the first major program of salvage archaeology was undertaken during the1930s, ahead of the construction and dam building done by the Tennessee Valley authority.
The rescue, or salvage, archaeologist, is concerned with the retrieval of as much information as possible about the archaeological sites before they are damaged or destroyed.
2. Anyone who has an obsession with excrement or excretory functions.
3. A reference to a person who resorts to obscene language or literature; especially, that dealing pruriently or humorously with excrement and excretory functions.
2. The scientific study and analysis of the feces.
3. Interest in obscene things; especially, obscene literature and conversation.
Scatology derives from a Greek word meaning "dung knowledge" and is used in pathology to mean "diagnosis by a study of feces."
It is commonly applied today; such as, to obscene or bawdy literature, some radio "talk shows" and TV programs, films, and dramatic performances.
2. The study of light pollution at night as it directly impacts biological existence which is usually specifically affected by darkness.
Plants and animals are programmed to function in a certain pattern of daylight and darkness. Alter those patterns and unhealthy things often happen.
It applies equally to organisms that are active at night and those, including humans, whose bodies require regular periods with the lights out.
Some people believe that as with all types of pollution, light pollution contaminates the natural environment and produces side effects that should be mitigated or avoided, if possible, to create a balance between necessary urban light levels and a healthy environment.
Sedimentology is also influenced by movements caused by gravity or motions caused by erosion; such as, when sediment rolls or goes downhill in a landslide or when it is carried away by water, wind, or moving ice in glaciers.
