ext_147905 ([identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] 1word1day2016-07-28 08:12 am
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Thursday word: orology

orology (aw-ROL-uh-jee or oh-ROL-uh-jee) - n., the study of mountains.


Particularly the study of mountain formation, but also the branch of physical geography that deals with mountains -- and indeed, orography is the more common term for it (though that said, Wikipedia redirects the term to "mountain research"). But I prefer this one because it has the adjectival form orological. Coined in the late 18th century by traveller and historian John Talbot Dillon from Greek roots óros, mountain + -ology.

She plans to combine majors in physical geography and geology and become an orologist.

---L.

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