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etiology

Etiology is defined as the science of finding causes and origins.

(noun)

An example of etiology is knowing that some of the causes of high blood pressure are smoking, lack of exercise, stress and a diet high in salt and fat.

See etiology in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. etiologies

the assignment of a cause, or the cause assigned: the etiology of a folkway
the science of causes or origins
1. the science of the causes or origins of disease
2. the causes of a specific disease

Origin: LL aetiologia < Gr aitiologia < aitia, cause (< base of aisa, fate: see diet) + logia, description: see -logy

Related Forms:

etiologic adjective or etiological
etiologically adverb

See etiology in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also ae·ti·ol·o·gy

noun pl. e·ti·ol·o·gies also ae·ti·ol·o·gies

a. The study of causes or origins.
b. The branch of medicine that deals with the causes or origins of disease.
a. Assignment of a cause, an origin, or a reason for something.
b. The cause or origin of a disease or disorder as determined by medical diagnosis.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin aetiologia

Origin: , from Greek aitiologiā

Origin: : aitiā, cause

Origin: + -logiā, -logy

Related Forms: