orismology

American

[awr-iz-mol-uh-jee, or-] / ˌɔr ɪzˈmɒl ə dʒi, ˌɒr- /

noun

the science of defining the technical or special terms of a particular subject or field of study.

Etymology

Origin of orismology

1810–20; < Greek horism ( ós ) definition, lit, marking of boundaries (derivative of horízein to delimit, make a boundary; horizon ) + -o- + -logy, with erroneous omission of initial h-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Orismology, or-is-mol′ō-ji, n. the science of defining technical terms.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg

Lafcadio Hearn, with his shy, sensitive nature, would have shuddered at the "plangent phrases and canorous orismology" that have been bestowed upon him by his friends.

From Project Gutenberg

Associated words: nominal, nominally, titular, titulary, onomatology, patronomatology, onomasticon, orismology, pseudepigraphy, pseudonymity, roster, register, née, nomancy, namesake, eponymy, of that ilk, nomenclator, heteronym, synedoche, nominative. name, v. entitle, denominate, style, call, christen, dub, term; designate, specify, nominate. nameless, a. unnamed; undistinguished, inglorious, unknown, obscure; anonymous; unnamable, inexpressible. namelessness, n. anonymity; obscurity. names, n. pl. nomenclature, terminology.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023