taxonomy (2009-04-15)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [tæk-'sah-nê-mi]

Definition: A taxonomy is a structure for classifying things in a series of hierarchical categories that makes it easier to identify them. Botanists for example, divide plants into divisions made up of classes containing subclasses which comprise superorders, orders, families, and genera (plural of genus) made up of species.

Usage: Language itself provides us with everyday taxonomies: a robin is a bird, all birds are animals, all animals are creatures—each category is larger than its predecessor. Such linguistic taxonomies provide us the authority to say things like, "I'm no expert in animal taxonomy but I know that oysters are not a species of turtle." Taxonomies are also important in business: "The only person in the company who knows the entire taxonomy of our product line is old Noah Zarque who retires next month."

Suggested Usage: The plural is "taxonomies" and someone engaged in classification is a "taxonomist." The adjective is "taxonomic" [tæk-sê-'nah-mik] and to classify in taxonomies is to "taxonomize" [tæk-'sah-nê-mIz].

Etymology: From French "taxonomie" based on Greek taxis "arrangement" + nomos "law, custom." "Nomos" is related to the verb nemein "allot or manage," the meaning found in "economy" from Greek oikos "home" + nomos "management." "Nemesis" shares the same origin via Nemesis, the goddess of retribution. In Germanic languages the root emerges in Old English niman and German nehmen "take." Although the verb did not survive in English ("take" was borrowed from Old Norse to replace it), the past participle, numen "seized, taken" and the adjective nemel "grasping or learning quickly" did survive as "numb" and "nimble," respectively.