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paleontology

[pey-lee-uh n-tol-uh-jee or, esp. British, pal-ee-]
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noun, plural pa·le·on·tol·o·gies for 2.
  1. the science of the forms of life existing in former geologic periods, as represented by their fossils.
  2. a treatise on paleontology.
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Origin of paleontology

From the French word paléontologie, dating back to 1830–40. See pale(o)-, ontology
Related formspa·le·on·to·log·ic [pey-lee-on-tl-oj-ik or, esp. British, pal-ee-] /ˌpeɪ liˌɒn tlˈɒdʒ ɪk or, esp. British, ˌpæl i-/, pa·le·on·to·log·i·cal, adjectivepa·le·on·to·log·i·cal·ly, adverbpa·le·on·tol·o·gist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

paleontologistexcavatorclassicist

Examples from the Web for paleontologist

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • He then proceeds to theorize, hand in hand with the paleontologist, or student of ancient life.

    Unexplored!

    Allen Chaffee

  • It is a desert to the agriculturist, a mine to the paleontologist, and a paradise to the artist.

  • The paleontologist now reached up to a geometrical plane and brought down another small fossil.

  • The paleontologist removed the confounded monocle from his eye, and wiped the lens with a bit of chamois skin.

  • My good friend the paleontologist is in greater danger than he realizes, when he leaves descriptions and attempts explanation.

Word Origin and History for paleontologist

n.

1836, from paleontology + -ist.

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paleontology

n.

1833, probably from French paléontologie, from Greek palaios "old, ancient" (see paleo-) + ontologie (see ontology). Related: Paleontological.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
paleontologist in Science

paleontology

[pā′lē-ŏn-tŏl′ə-jē]
  1. The scientific study of life in the geologic past, especially through the study of animal and plant fossils.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
paleontologist in Culture

paleontology

[(pay-lee-uhn-tol-uh-jee)]

The study of ancient life forms, particularly as they are seen in fossils.

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.