Etymograph

English

paleontology

Paleontology comes from French paléontologie.

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentpaléontologie
  2. Englishtodaypaleontology

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentpaléontologie
  2. Englishtodaypaleontology

Equivalent to paleo- ‘ancient’ + onto- ‘being’ + -logy ‘study’

Ancient Greek πάλαι ‘long ago’

Ancient Greek παλαιός ‘old’

English paleo-

Ancient Greek ὄντος

English onto-

The story

Attested since 1836 (as palæontology). From French paléontologie (attested since 1822).

Every English word from French paléontologie

Today it means

noun The study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, especially as represented by fossils.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / French paléontologie / paleontology

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