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geratology

[jer-uh-tol-uh-jee]
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noun Biology.
  1. the study of the diminution or decline of life, as in an individual animal or a species approaching extinction.
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Origin of geratology

1880–85; gerat- (erroneously taken as the stem of Greek gêras old age) + -o- + -logy
Related formsger·a·to·log·ic [jer-uh-tl-oj-ik] /ˌdʒɛr ə tlˈɒdʒ ɪk/, ger·a·tol·o·gous [jer-uh-tol-uh-guh s] /ˌdʒɛr əˈtɒl ə gəs/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for geratology

Historical Examples

  • Geratology, jer-at-ol′o-ji, n. the science of the phenomena of decadence.

    Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for geratology

geratology

noun
  1. the branch of medicine concerned with the elderly and the phenomena associated with ageing; geriatrics and gerontology
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Derived Formsgeratological (ˌdʒɛrətəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectivegeratologist, noun

Word Origin

C19: from gerato-, from Greek gēras old age + -logy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for geratology

n.

"study of decadence," 1884, from Greek geras (genitive geratos) "old age" (see geriatric) + -logy.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper