ology

ology

See also: -ology

English

Etymology

From the suffix -ology in the names of many sciences.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɒləd͡ʒɪ/

• Audio (UK)

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• (General American) enPR: ŏʹlə-jē, IPA^(key): /ˈɑləd͡ʒi/
• Rhymes: -ɒləd͡ʒi

Noun

ology (plural ologies)

1. (colloquial) Any branch of learning, especially one ending in “-logy”.
   • 1786, William Beckford, Vathek

     Dr Ehrhart protested no country under the sun equalled Portugal for curiosities in mineralogy, theology, and wineology – which ology he was convinced was the best of them all.

   • 1854, Charles Dickens, Hard Times:

     You learnt a great deal, Louisa, and so did your brother. Ologies of all kinds, from morning to night. If there is an Ology left, of any description, that has not been worn to rags...

   • 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience:

     The ideal world, for them, is not a world of facts, but only of the meaning of facts; it is a point of view for judging facts. It appertains to a different "-ology," […]

   • 1987, British Telecom, "Beatrice Bellman advertisement":

     An ology! He gets an ology and he says he's failed. You get an ology, you're a scientist!

Related terms

• -logy

Anagrams

• LOOGY, gooly, loogy