-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.

terotechnology
1. The branch of technology and engineering concerned with the installation, maintenance, and replacement of industrial plant and equipment and with related subjects and practices.
2. Use of various skills to extend the life of industrial equipment.
testaceology
The science of testaceous (hard shell) mollusks; conchology.
thalattology (s) (noun) (no pl)
That branch of science pertaining to the sea: In class at school, Susan learned that thalattology could also be the definition for the area of knowledge and research concerning the ocean.
thanatobiology
Studies related to the processes involved in life and death.
thanatologist
A specialist in the study of death.
thanatology
1. The scientific study of death, its causes and phenomena.
2. The study of the effects of approaching death and of the needs of the terminally ill and their families.
3. The study of death and its effect on individuals and families.
4. In forensic medicine, the study of the circumstances under which death occurred, especially as they relate to the production of postmortem phenomena.
5. The medicolegal study of death and conditions affecting dead bodies.
thanatophidologist
One who specializes in the study of venomous snakes.
thaumatologist (s) (noun), thaumatologists (pl)
A person or people who study or describe miracles.
thaumatology (s) (noun), thaumatologies (pl)
A description, discussion, or the study of the performances of miracles.
theoastrology (s) (noun), theoastrologies (pl)
A belief in gods that is based on the existence and interpretations of celestial bodies.
theologist (s) (noun), theologists (pl)
A person who studies religions.
theology (s) (noun), theologies (pl)
1. The study of religion, especially the Christian faith and God’s relation to the world.
2. A religious theory, school of thought, or system of belief.
3. A course of specialized religious training, especially one intended to lead students to a vocation in the Christian Church.
4. A system of religious knowledge or beliefs.
Two men are studying the Bible and other books about God and the Christian church.

Two men are studying the Bible and other books related to God and various religious beliefs.

Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.
theomythology (s) (noun), theomythologies (pl)
A story or presentation that includes a mixture of religion and mythology: "Theomythology may include stories about supernatural beings and beliefs that some people have, or have had, even when they are not considered to be true."
theoteleology (s) (noun), theoteleologies (pl)
The doctrine of a godlike direction of nature to a divinely appointed end.
theriogenologist
A person who specializes in theriogenology.
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-.