logo-, log-, -logia, -logic, -logical, -logism, -logician, -logian, -logue

A method of placing a group of similar objects into a chronological sequence: An archaeological sequence must also take into account the stylistic changes of the items that have occurred over time.

Any concentration of artifacts, ecofacts, features, and structures manufactured or modified by humans: The archaeological site that Mrs. Black's class visited was a place where the students could see preserved evidence of activities of people who had lived in prehistoric times.

A method used to examine an area to determine if there are any deposits available of people and their cultures: An archaeological survey is a kind of field research to look for archaeological sites, gather information about that locality, in addition to other detailed investigational activities.

Any theoretical concept used to assess the framework and meaning of the remains of past human activity; An archaeological theory refers to the reconstruction and interpretation of the past by looking beyond the facts and artifacts for explanations of prehistoric events.

An arbitrary division of classification set up by an archaeologist to separate one grouping of artifacts from another in space and time: Those helping the archaeologist at the historical site were busy arranging the ancient man-made objects in archaeological units.

Of, relating to, or concerning archaeology: Jack was totally fascinated by the remains of the historic past and decided to go to an archaeological school and later work at archaeological sites!

A professional scholar who studies and reconstructs the human past through its physical remains: The work of an archaeologist involves the scientific finding, collecting, cleaning, sorting, identifying, and the measuring of objects found in or on the earth or sea.

Usually the motives of archeologists are to record and to interpret ancient cultures rather than to collect and to display artifacts for a profit.

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A reference to those who must eat their own words.

The intelligent power displayed in organic activities.

An abnormal slowness or deliberation in speech.

Absurdly convoluted, sophistical, or illogical argumentation; glib and specious reasoning; a person who uses such logic.

1. A spoken communication with two or more people; a conversation: In the school play there was a dialogue between the two main characters in the first scene.
2. An interchange and discussion of ideas: In Abraham's classroom, there was a dialogue among the students and their teacher about the use of cell phones, or mobile phones, during class.
3. Etymology: "a literary work consisting of a conversation between two or more people"; from Old French dialoge, which came from Latin dialogus, from Greek dialogos, "conversation, dialogue" and is related to dialogesthai "to converse"; from dia-, "across" + legein, "to speak".

The meaning of the word expanded to "a conversation" in about 1400. The mistaken belief that it only means "conversation between two people" comes from the confusion of dia- and the similar prefix di-, "two, double, twice" that came from Greek di- and dis-, "twice" which is related to duo, "two".

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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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