-logy
Language: English
Part of speech: suffix
Pronunciation: enpr: ləjē
ipa: /ləd͡ʒi/
Forms: form: -ology
Etymology: Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-
Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos)
Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā)
Ancient Greek -λογῐ́ᾱ (-logĭ́ā)bor.
Latin -logialbor.
French -logiebor.
English -logy
The English -logy suffix originates with loanwords from the Greek, usually via Latin and French, where the suffix -λογία (-logía) is an integral part of the word loaned. E.g. astrology from astrologia, since the 16th century.
The French -logie is a continuation of Latin -logia, ultimately from Ancient Greek -λογία (-logía). Within Greek, the suffix is an -ία (-ía) abstract from λόγος (lógos, “account, explanation, narrative”), itself a verbal noun from λέγω (légō, “I say, speak, converse, tell a story”).
Within English, the suffix becomes productive, especially to form names of sciences or departments of study, analogous to names of disciplines loaned from the Latin, such as astrology from astrologia or geology from geologia. Original compositions of terms with no precedent in Greek or Latin become common beginning in the later 18th century, sometimes imitating French or German templates (e.g. insectology, attested 1766, after French insectologie; terminology, attested 1801, after German Terminologie).
In a third stage, from the 19th century, the suffix becomes productive enough to form nonce combinations with English terms with no Greek or Latin origin, such as undergroundology (1820), hatology (1837).
Finally, from the second half of the 19th century, the suffix has also been used as a simplex as ology (plural ologies) and logy (plural logies), in parallel with and often alongside ism (plural isms).
Senses: examples: Examples: biology, geology, genealogy
glosses: A branch of learning; a study of a particular subject.
examples: Examples: haplology, eulogy, trilogy, apology
glosses: Speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative, logical discourse.
Synonyms: sense: branch of learning
word: -ics
sense: branch of learning
word: -istics
sense: branch of learning
word: -lore
Derived terms: word: acarology
word: acridology
word: actinobiology
word: actinology
word: addictology
word: adenology
word: aerobiology
word: aerogeology
word: aerology
word: aeropalynology
word: aesthesiophysiology
word: aetiology
word: agnatology
word: agnoiology
word: agnotology
word: agrobiology
word: agrobiotechnology
word: agroecology
word: agrohydrology
word: agrology
word: agrostology
word: aitiology
word: alcohology
word: alethiology
word: alethology
word: algesiology
word: algology
word: allergology
word: amphibiology
word: anaesthesiology
word: anaplastology
word: andrology
word: anesthesiology
word: angelology
word: angiocardiology
word: angiology
word: angiopathology
word: anthropobiology
word: anthropology
word: anthrozoology
word: aphasiology
word: apidology
word: apiology
word: arachnology
word: arbovirology
word: archaeology
word: archaeomalacology
word: archaeozoology
word: archeology
word: archeomalacology
word: archeozoology
word: arcology
word: areology
word: aretalogy
word: arteriology
word: arthrology
word: arthropodology
word: Assyriology
word: asteroseismology
word: astrobiology
word: astrogeology
word: astrology
word: astroseismology
word: astrotheology
word: atmology
word: atomology
word: audiology
word: autecology
word: auxology
word: axiology
word: bacteriology
word: balneology
word: baraminology
word: benthology
word: bioarchaeology
word: biocenology
word: bioclimatology
word: biocoenology
word: bioecology
word: biology
word: biometeorology
word: biomusicology
word: biomythology
word: biopharmacology
word: biophysiology
word: biopsychology
word: biosociology
word: biotechnology
word: biotoxicology
word: boxology
word: brachylogy
word: bromatology
word: bronchoesophagology
word: bronchology
word: bronchooesophagology
word: brontology
word: brontotheology
word: bryology
word: bryotechnology
word: bryozoology
word: Buddhology
word: cacology
word: campanology
word: cardioangiology
word: cardiology
word: cardiovasology
word: cariology
word: carphology
word: carpology
word: cecidiology
word: cecidology
word: cereology
word: cetology
word: characterology
word: cheirology
word: chelonology
word: chemoecology
word: chirology
word: choreology
word: chorology
word: chresmology
word: Christology
word: chronobiology
word: chronology
word: chronopharmacology
word: cirripedology
word: climatology
word: codicology
word: codology
word: cohomology
word: coleopterology
word: coloproctology
word: comitology
word: communicology
word: communioecclesiology
word: communio-ecclesiology
word: conchology
word: coniology
word: contactology
word: coprology
word: cosmetology
word: cosmobiology
word: cosmochronology
word: cosmogeology
word: cosmology
word: cosmotheology
word: craniology
word: criminology
word: criteriology
word: crustaceology
word: cryobiology
word: cryology
word: cryotechnology
word: cryptology
word: cryptozoology
word: culturology
word: cynology
word: cytohistology
word: cytology
word: cytomorphology
word: cytopathology
word: cytophysiology
word: dactylology
word: decalogy
word: deltiology
word: demonology
word: dendroarchaeology
word: dendroarcheology
word: dendrochronology
word: dendroclimatology
word: dendrology
word: deontology
word: dermatology
word: dermatopathology
word: dermatovenerology
word: desmology
word: diabetology
word: dialectology
word: dianoiology
word: diatomology
word: dietology
word: dipterology
word: dittology
word: docimology
word: dosology
word: doxology
word: dracology
word: draconology
word: dracontology
word: dramatology
word: dysteleology
word: ecclesiology
word: eccrinology
word: echinodermology
word: echocardiology
word: ecoclimatology
word: ecohydrology
word: ecology
word: ecomorphology
word: ecopedology
word: ecophysiology
word: ecopsychology
word: ecotechnology
word: ecotoxicology
word: ecotrophology
word: edaphology
word: Egyptology
word: egyptology
word: eidology
word: electropathology
word: electrophysiology
word: electrotechnology
word: embryology
word: emetology
word: encephalology
word: endocrinology
word: endodontology
word: endourology
word: enigmatology
word: enology
word: enterology
word: entomology
word: environtology
word: enzymology
word: epeirology
word: epidemiology
word: epidemology
word: epileptology
word: epiphytology
word: epistemology
word: epizootiology
word: escapology
word: eschatology
word: esophagology
word: Esperantology
word: esthesiophysiology
word: ethicotheology
word: ethnoarchaeology
word: ethnoarcheology
word: ethnoecology
word: ethnology
word: ethnomethodology
word: ethnomusicology
word: ethnoorganology
word: ethno-organology
word: ethnopharmacology
word: ethnopsychology
word: ethology
word: etiology
word: Etruscology
word: etymology
word: exobiology
word: exogeology
word: exomorphology
word: fetology
word: fornicology
word: Francology
word: futurology
word: galactology
word: garbageology
word: garbology
word: gastroenterology
word: gastrology
word: gelotology
word: gemellology
word: geminology
word: gemmology
word: gemology
word: genealogy
word: genecology
word: geoarchaeology
word: geoarcheology
word: geobiology
word: geochronology
word: geocryology
word: geoecology
word: geohydrology
word: geology
word: geomicrobiology
word: geomorphology
word: geopathology
word: geopedology
word: geotechnology
word: geratology
word: gerodontology
word: gerontology
word: glaciology
word: glossology
word: glottochronology
word: glottology
word: glycobiology
word: gnathology
word: gnoseology
word: graminology
word: grammatology
word: graphology
word: gynaecology
word: gynecology
word: haematology
word: haematopathology
word: haemostaseology
word: hagiology
word: hamartiology
word: hamartology
word: haplology
word: helcology
word: heliology
word: helioseismology
word: helminthology
word: hematology
word: hematopathology
word: hemostaseology
word: henology
word: hepato-gastroenterology
word: hepatogastroenterology
word: hepatology
word: heptalogy
word: herbology
word: heresiology
word: herpetology
word: heterology
word: heteropterology
word: hexalogy
word: hippology
word: histology
word: histomorphology
word: histopathology
word: historiology
word: histotechnology
word: Hittitology
word: hodology
word: holomorphology
word: hominology
word: homoiology
word: homology
word: horology
word: humorology
word: hydrobiology
word: hydroecology
word: hydrogeology
word: hydrology
word: hydrometeorology
word: hydromicrobiology
word: hydromorphology
word: hymenopterology
word: hymnology
word: hypnology
word: iatroastrology
word: iatrotheology
word: ichnology
word: ichthyology
word: ichthyotheology
word: iconology
word: ideology
word: imageology
word: imagology
word: imamology
word: immunobiology
word: immunocytology
word: immunodermatology
word: immunohaematology
word: immunohematology
word: immunohistology
word: immunology
word: immunopathology
word: implantology
word: Indology
word: infectiology
word: infology
word: insectology
word: Iranology
word: irenology
word: iridology
word: Islamology
word: Japanology
word: Judeology
word: kairology
word: karstology
word: karyology
word: karyomorphology
word: Kibology
word: kidology
word: killology
word: kinesiology
word: kinology
word: knobology
word: Kremlinology
word: krenology
word: Kurdology
word: kymatology
word: laryngology
word: lepidopterology
word: lexicology
word: lichenology
word: limnology
word: limnozoology
word: lipidology
word: lithology
word: lithotheology
word: ludology
word: lymphology
word: malacology
word: malacozoology
word: maledictology
word: mammalogy
word: Mariology
word: martyrology
word: mediology
word: meiobenthology
word: melissopalynology
word: melittology
word: melitto-theology
word: melittotheology
word: menology
word: mereology
word: mereotopology
word: mesology
word: messianology
word: metabiology
word: metaphorology
word: metapsychology
word: meteorology
word: meteoropathology
word: methodology
word: metrology
word: microarchaeology
word: microarcheology
word: microbiology
word: microclimatology
word: microhistology
word: micrology
word: micrometeorology
word: micromorphology
word: micropalaeontology
word: micropaleontology
word: micropathology
word: microtechnology
word: mineralogy
word: misology
word: missiology
word: mixology
word: molinology
word: monadology
word: morology
word: morphology
word: morphophonology
word: museology
word: musicology
word: Mycenology
word: mycetology
word: mycology
word: myology
word: myriapodology
word: myrmecology
word: mythology
word: nanobiotechnology
word: nanotechnology
word: narcology
word: narratology
word: necrology
word: nematology
word: neology
word: neonatology
word: nephology
word: nephrology
word: neuroanthropology
word: neurobiology
word: neurocytology
word: neuroendocrinology
word: neuroethology
word: neurogastroenterology
word: neurohistology
word: neuroimmunology
word: neurology
word: neuroophthalmology
word: neuro-ophthalmology
word: neurootology
word: neuropathology
word: neuropathophysiology
word: neuropharmacology
word: neurophenomenology
word: neurophysiology
word: neuropsychology
word: neuropsychopharmacology
word: neuroradiology
word: neurotechnology
word: nidology
word: nomology
word: noology
word: nosology
word: nostology
word: numerology
word: obesitology
word: oceanology
word: odonatology
word: odontology
word: odontostomatology
word: odorology
word: oenology
word: oesophagology
word: oikology
word: omphalology
word: oncohaematology
word: oncohematology
word: oncology
word: oneirology
word: onomasiology
word: onomatology
word: ontology
word: ontopsychology
word: ontotheology
word: oology
word: ophiology
word: ophthalmology
word: optotechnology
word: orchidology
word: organology
word: ornithology
word: orology
word: orthokeratology
word: orthology
word: orthopterology
word: osmology
word: osteoarchaeology
word: osteoarcheology
word: osteoimmunology
word: osteology
word: otolaryngology
word: otology
word: otorhinolaryngology
word: ovology
word: paedodontology
word: pædology
word: paedology
word: paidology
word: palaeanthropology
word: palæanthropology
word: palaeoanthropology
word: palaeobiology
word: palaeoclimatology
word: palaeoecology
word: palaeoecophysiology
word: palaeoentomology
word: palaeohistology
word: palaeohydrology
word: palaeoichnology
word: palaeoichthyology
word: palaeolimnology
word: palaeomorphology
word: palaeontology
word: palaeoosteology
word: palaeoparasitology
word: palaeopathology
word: palaeopedology
word: palaeophysiology
word: palaeophytology
word: palaeornithology
word: palaeoserology
word: palaeovirology
word: palaeozoology
word: paleoanthropology
word: paleobiology
word: paleoclimatology
word: paleoecology
word: paleoecophysiology
word: paleoentomology
word: paleohistology
word: paleohydrology
word: paleoichnology
word: paleoichthyology
word: paleolimnology
word: paleomorphology
word: paleontology
word: paleoosteology
word: paleoparasitology
word: paleopathology
word: paleopedology
word: paleophysiology
word: paleophytology
word: paleornithology
word: paleoserology
word: paleovirology
word: paleozoology
word: palynology
word: papyrology
word: parachronology
word: paralogy
word: parapsychology
word: parasitology
word: paremiology
word: parodontology
word: pathobiology
word: pathohistology
word: pathology
word: pathophysiology
word: pathopsychology
word: patrology
word: pedobiology
word: pedodontology
word: pedology
word: penology
word: pentalogy
word: perinatology
word: periodontology
word: pestology
word: petinotheology
word: petino-theology
word: petrifactology
word: petrology
word: pharmacology
word: pharyngology
word: phenology
word: phenomenology
word: philology
word: phlebology
word: phonology
word: photobiology
word: photogeology
word: photology
word: phraseology
word: phrenology
word: phthisiology
word: phycology
word: phyllobiology
word: physico-theology
word: physicotheology
word: physiology
word: physiopathology
word: phytobalneology
word: phytoecology
word: phytology
word: phytomorphology
word: phytonematology
word: phytopalaeontology
word: phytopaleontology
word: phytopathology
word: phytopharmacology
word: phytophysiology
word: phytosociology
word: phytotechnology
word: phytotheology
word: phyto-theology
word: pigeonology
word: piphilology
word: pisteology
word: planetology
word: planktology
word: plumology
word: pneumatology
word: pneumology
word: pneumonology
word: podology
word: poenology
word: poetology
word: politology
word: polyetiology
word: pomology
word: ponerology
word: posology
word: potamology
word: praxeology
word: primatology
word: proctology
word: projectiology
word: prophetology
word: protistology
word: protology
word: protozoology
word: psephology
word: pseudoetymology
word: pseudo-etymology
word: psychobiology
word: psychodermatology
word: psychoendoneuroimmunology
word: psychology
word: psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology
word: psychoneuroendocrinology
word: psychoneuroimmunology
word: psycho-oncology
word: psychooncology
word: psychopathology
word: psychopharmacology
word: psychophysiology
word: psychotraumatology
word: pteridology
word: pulmology
word: pulmonology
word: pyramidology
word: pyrology
word: pyro-theology
word: pyrotheology
word: quadrilogy
word: raciology
word: radiobiology
word: radioecology
word: radiology
word: radiooncology
word: radiopathology
word: radiopharmacology
word: rastrology
word: reflexology
word: reptiliology
word: rheology
word: rheumatology
word: rhinolaryngology
word: rhinology
word: rhodology
word: rhythmology
word: roentgenology
word: runology
word: sacramentology
word: sarcology
word: scatology
word: scenology
word: Scientology
word: sclerochronology
word: sedimentology
word: seismology
word: selenology
word: semasiology
word: sematology
word: semiology
word: senology
word: seroepidemiology
word: serology
word: serpentology
word: sexology
word: Sinology
word: sinology
word: sitiology
word: skeletochronology
word: sociobiology
word: sociology
word: somatology
word: somnology
word: sophiology
word: sophrology
word: soteriology
word: Sovietology
word: spasmologyy
word: speleology
word: splanchnology
word: spongiology
word: sporalogy
word: staurology
word: stemmatology
word: stomatology
word: storiology
word: strabismology
word: strabology
word: strigiology
word: stromatology
word: sucrology
word: suggestology
word: suicidology
word: Sumerology
word: symbology
word: symptomatology
word: symptomology
word: syndesmology
word: syndromatology
word: synecology
word: syphilology
word: syzygiology
word: tautology
word: technology
word: tegestology
word: teleology
word: teleradiology
word: teratology
word: terminology
word: testamentology
word: tetralogy
word: teuthology
word: thanatology
word: thaumatology
word: theology
word: theriogenology
word: theriology
word: thermatology
word: thermology
word: Thracology
word: thremmatology
word: Tibetology
word: tidology
word: timology
word: tocology
word: tokology
word: tonology
word: topology
word: toxicology
word: transfusiology
word: translatology
word: transplantology
word: trassology
word: traumatology
word: traumatopsychology
word: tribology
word: trichology
word: trichopterology
word: trilogy
word: trophology
word: tropology
word: Turcology
word: Turkology
word: typology
word: ufology
word: urogynaecology
word: urogynecology
word: urology
word: urooncology
word: uro-oncology
word: uroradiology
word: vaccinology
word: venereology
word: venology
word: vermeology
word: vexillology
word: victimology
word: vinylogy
word: virology
word: vitaminology
word: Volapükology
word: volcanology
word: vulcanology
word: xenobiology
word: xenology
word: xylology
word: zooarchaeology
word: zooarcheology
word: zooecology
word: zoology
word: zoomorphology
word: zoopalaeontology
word: zoopaleontology
word: zoosociology
word: zumology
word: zymology
word: zymotechnology
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: analogy
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: apology
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: dilogy
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: duology
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: eulogy
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: haplology
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: hexalogy
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: quadrilogy
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: tetralogy
sense: Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative
word: trilogy
Related terms: -logic
-logical
-logist
ology
-nomy