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pa·le·on·tol·o·gy
 paleontology
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- pronunciation:
- peI
li
an
ta
l
ji
[or]
pae
li
an
ta
l
ji
- features:
- Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
the science that studies animal and plant fossils for information about life in the past.
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| derivations: |
paleontologic (adj.), paleontological (adj.), paleontologist (n.) |
The word paleontology
contains the following parts:
ont, onto
Greek
root
that means being, existence
  Example words:
pale, paleo
Greek
root
that means ancient
Example words:
-logy, -ology
Greek
noun-forming suffix
that means study of, science of; written work; structure or principle
More about this word part:
The suffix -logy
, -ology
forms nouns from bases that are predominantly Greek roots. It is a terminal form of the root log, logo, -logue which in the vast majority cases signifies the study or science of the subject indicated by the base. In some words, however, -ology
carries the meaning "written work" (trilogy) or "structure" (homology). See log, logo, -logue. Most nouns ending in -logy
, -ology
have an adjective form ending in "-ical." (dermatology, dermatological).
Example words:
anthology, anthropology, apology, archeology, astrology, biology, ecology, etymology, geology, mythology, ornithology, paleontology, psychology, technology, zoology
- synonyms:
- -ics
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