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paleontology

paleontology definition

pale·on·tol·ogy (pā′lē ən täl′ə jē, -lē än-)

noun

the branch of geology that deals with life forms from the past, esp. prehistoric life forms, through the study of fossils
a treatise on this subject

Etymology: Fr paléontologie: see pale- & onto- & -logy

Related Forms:

paleontological pa′le·on′·to·log′i·cal (-än′tō läj′i kəl) adjective or paleontologic pa′le·on′·to·log′ic
paleontologist pa′le·on·tol′o·gist noun

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