Chapter 6: How to Talk About Science and Scientists

Teaser Preview

What scientist:

is interested in the development of the human race?

is a student of the heavens?

explores the physical qualities of the earth?

studies all living matter?

is a student of plant life?

is a student of animal life?

is professionally involved in insects?

is a student of language?

is a student of the psychological effects of words?

studies the culture, structure, and customs of different societies?

Session 11: Ideas

A true scientist lives up to the etymological meaning of his title “one who knows.” Anything scientific is based on facts—observable facts that can be recorded, tested, checked, and verified.

Science, then, deals with human knowledge—as far as it has gone. It has gone very far indeed since the last century or two, when we stopped basing our thinking on guesses, wishes, theories that had no foundation in reality, and concepts of how the world ought to be; and instead began to explore the world as it was, and not only the world but the whole universe. From Galileo, who looked through the first telescope atop a tower in Pisa, Italy, through Pasteur, who watched microbes through a microscope, to Einstein, who deciphered riddles of the universe by means of mathematics, we have at last begun to fill in a few areas of ignorance.

Who are some of the more important explorers of knowledge—and by what terms are they known?

1. whither mankind?

The field is all mankind—how we developed in mind and body from primitive cultures and early forms.

2. what’s above?

The field is the heavens and all that’s in them—planets, galaxies, stars, and other universes.

3. and what’s below?

The field is the comparatively little and insignificant whirling ball on which we live—the earth. How did our planet come into being, what is it made of, how were its mountains, oceans, rivers, plains, and valleys formed, and what’s down deep if you start digging?

4. what is life?

The field is all living organisms—from the simplest one-celled amoeba to the amazingly complex and mystifying structure we call a human being. Plant or animal, flesh or vegetable, denizen of water, earth, or air—if it lives and grows, this scientist wants to know more about it.

5. flora

Biology classifies life into two great divisions—plant and animal. This scientist’s province is the former category—flowers, trees, shrubs, mosses, marine vegetation, blossoms, fruits, seeds, grasses, and all the rest that make up the plant kingdom.

6. and fauna

Animals of every description, kind, and condition, from birds to bees, fish to fowl, reptiles to humans, are the special area of exploration of this scientist.

7. and all the little bugs

There are over 650,000 different species of insects, and millions of individuals of every species—and this scientist is interested in every one of them.

8. tower of Babel

This linguistic scientist explores the subtle, intangible, elusive uses of that unique tool that distinguishes human beings from all other forms of life—to wit: language. This person is, in short, a student of linguistics, ancient and modern, primitive and cultured, Chinese, Hebrew, Icelandic, Slavic, Teutonic, and every other kind spoken now or in the past by human beings, not excluding that delightful hodgepodge known as “pidgin English,” in which a piano is described as “big box, you hit ’um in teeth, he cry,” and in which Hamlet’s famous quandary, “To be or not to be, that is the question…,” is translated into “Can do, no can do—how fashion?”

9. what do you really mean?

This linguistic scientist explored the subtle, intangible, elusive relationship between language and thinking, between meaning and words; and is interested in determining the psychological causes and effects of what people say and write.

10. who are your friends and neighbors?

This scientist is a student of the ways in which people live together, their family and community structures and customs, their housing, their social relationships, their forms of government, and their layers of caste and class.

Can You Pronounce the Words?

anthropologist (anʹ-thrə-POLʹ-ə-jist)
astronomer (ə-STRONʹ-ə-mər)
geologist (jee-OLʹ-ə-jist)
biologist (bī-OLʹ-ə-jist)
botanist (BOTʹ-ə-nist)
zoologist (zō-OLʹ-ə-jist)
entomologist (enʹ-tə-MOLʹ-ə-jist)
philologist (fə-LOLʹ-ə-jist)
semanticist (sə-MANʹ-tə-sist)
sociologist (sō-shee-OLʹ-ə-jist or sōʹ-see-OLʹ-ə-jist)

Can You Work with the Words?

Click a scientist on the left, then click the matching professional field on the right.

Score: 0 / 0 out of 10

Matched: 0 / 10

Can You Recall the Words?

Score: 0 / 0 out of 10

1. insects: E____________

2. language: P____________

3. social conditions: S____________

4. history of development of mankind: A____________

5. meanings of words: S____________

6. plants: B____________

7. the earth: G____________

8. the heavenly bodies: A____________

9. all living things: B____________

10. animals: Z____________

Origins — People and the Stars

Anthropologist is constructed from roots we are familiar with — anthropos, mankind, and logos, science, study.

The science is anthropology (anʹ-thrə-POLʹ-ə-jee). Can you write the adjective form of this word? anthropological.

Astronomer is built on Greek astron, star, and nomos, arrangement, law, or order. The astronomer is interested in the arrangement of stars and other celestial bodies. The science is astronomy (ə-STRONʹ-ə-mee), the adjective astronomical (asʹ-trə-NOMʹ-ə-kəl).

Do not confuse astronomy with astrology (ə-STROLʹ-ə-jee). Astrology is not a science but a theory, now discredited, that the planets and stars exert an influence on human events and that one can foretell the future by a study of the stars. The practitioner is an astrologer, the adjective astrological.

Greek nautes, sailor, combined with astron, star, gives us astronaut (ASʹ-trə-notʹ) — etymologically "a sailor among the stars."

Greek kosmos, world, universe, combined with nautes, gives us cosmonaut (KOZʹ-mə-notʹ) — "a sailor of the universe" — the term used for Russian space travelers.

Nautical (NOTʹ-ə-kəl) — pertaining to sailors, sailing, ships, or navigation.

The star-shaped flower is an aster (ASʹ-tər). A typographical symbol shaped like a star (*) is an asterisk (ASʹ-tə-risk).

A disaster (də-ZASʹ-tər) — etymologically "a befalling of the stars" — a great misfortune. The adjective is disastrous (də-ZASʹ-trəs).

Origins — Self, Measurement, and Earth

Greek autos, self, combined with nomos, gives us autonomy (aw-TONʹ-ə-mee) — self-rule, self-government. The adjective is autonomous (aw-TONʹ-ə-məs).

Greek metron, measurement, combined with nomos, gives us metronome (METʹ-rə-nōmʹ) — an instrument used in music to measure time.

Autos combined with bios, life, and graphein, to write, gives us autobiography (awʹ-tə-bī-OGʹ-rə-fee) — the story of one's own life, self-written. The person who writes it is an autobiographer, the adjective is autobiographical.

Bios combined with graphein gives us biography (bī-OGʹ-rə-fee) — the story of someone's life. The writer is a biographer, the adjective biographical.

Ge (geo-), earth, combined with logos gives us geology. Combined with metron gives us geometry (jee-OMʹ-ə-tree) — etymologically "earth measurement." A practitioner is a geometrician (jeeʹ-ə-mə-TRISHʹ-ən), the adjective geometric.

Ge combined with graphein gives us geography (jee-OGʹ-rə-fee) — "earth writing" or mapping. The practitioner is a geographer, the adjective geographical.

Bios, life, combined with opsis, view or sight, gives us biopsy (BĪʹ-op-see) — a microscopic examination of living tissue.

Autos, self, combined with opsis gives us autopsy (AWʹ-top-see) — etymologically "a seeing with one's own eyes," hence the dissection and examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death.

Botany (BOTʹ-ə-nee) comes from Greek botane, plant. The adjective is botanical (bə-TANʹ-ə-kəl).

Zoology (zō-OLʹ-ə-jee) comes from Greek zoion, animal. The adjective is zoological (zō-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl).

The zodiac (ZŌʹ-dee-ak) is a diagram showing the paths of the sun, moon, and planets — named after the animals (signs) represented in it. The adjective is zodiacal (zō-DĪʹ-ə-kəl).

Review of Etymology

Write the English word derived from each root and meaning.

Score: 0 / 0 out of 15

1. anthropos (mankind) + logos (study):

2. astron (star) + nomos (arrangement, law):

3. astron (star) + logos (study) — theory of star influence:

4. astron (star) + nautes (sailor):

5. kosmos (universe) + nautes (sailor):

6. autos (self) + nomos (law) — self-rule:

7. metron (measurement) + nomos (law) — time measurer:

8. autos (self) + bios (life) + graphein (write):

9. bios (life) + graphein (write) — story of a life:

10. ge (earth) + metron (measurement):

11. ge (earth) + graphein (write) — earth mapping:

12. bios (life) + opsis (view) — exam of living tissue:

13. autos (self) + opsis (view) — examination of a corpse:

14. botane (plant) — adjective form:

15. zoion (animal) — adjective form:

Can You Pronounce the Words?

Pronunciation (I)

anthropology (anʹ-thrə-POLʹ-ə-jee)
anthropological (anʹ-thrə-pə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
astronomy (ə-STRONʹ-ə-mee)
astronomical (asʹ-trə-NOMʹ-ə-kəl)
astrology (ə-STROLʹ-ə-jee)
astrological (asʹ-trə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
astronaut (ASʹ-trə-notʹ)
cosmonaut (KOZʹ-mə-notʹ)
nautical (NOTʹ-ə-kəl)
aster (ASʹ-tər)
asterisk (ASʹ-tə-risk)
disaster (də-ZASʹ-tər)
disastrous (də-ZASʹ-trəs)

Pronunciation (II)

geology (jee-OLʹ-ə-jee)
geological (jeeʹ-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
geometry (jee-OMʹ-ə-tree)
geometrician (jeeʹ-ə-mə-TRISHʹ-ən)
geometric (jee-ə-METʹ-rik)
geography (jee-OGʹ-rə-fee)
geographer (jee-OGʹ-rə-fər)
geographical (jeeʹ-ə-GRAFʹ-ə-kəl)
biology (bī-OLʹ-ə-jee)
biological (bīʹ-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
biography (bī-OGʹ-rə-fee)
biographer (bī-OGʹ-rə-fər)
biographical (bīʹ-ə-GRAFʹ-ə-kəl)

Pronunciation (III)

autonomy (aw-TONʹ-ə-mee)
autonomous (aw-TONʹ-ə-məs)
metronome (METʹ-rə-nōmʹ)
autobiography (awʹ-tə-bī-OGʹ-rə-fee)
autobiographer (awʹ-tə-bī-OGʹ-rə-fər)
autobiographical (aw-tə-bīʹ-ə-GRAFʹ-ə-kəl)
biopsy (BĪʹ-op-see)
autopsy (AWʹ-top-see)
botany (BOTʹ-ə-nee)
botanical (bə-TANʹ-ə-kəl)
zoology (zō-OLʹ-ə-jee)
zoological (zō-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
zodiac (ZŌʹ-dee-ak)
zodiacal (zō-DĪʹ-ə-kəl)

Can You Work with the Words?

Match (I)

Matched: 0 / 9

Match (II)

Matched: 0 / 11

Do You Understand the Words?

Score: 0 / 0 out of 15

1. Are anthropological studies concerned with plant life?

2. Are astronomical numbers extremely small?

3. Is an astrologer interested in the time and date of your birth?

4. Are nautical maneuvers carried on at sea?

5. Does a disastrous earthquake take a huge toll of life and property?

6. Do geological investigations sometimes determine where oil is to be found?

7. Does a geometrician work with mathematics?

8. Do geographical shifts in population sometimes affect the economy of an area?

9. Does a biographical novel deal with the life of a real person?

10. Is botany a biological science?

11. Is the United States politically autonomous?

12. Is a biopsy performed on a dead body?

13. Is a metronome used in the study of mathematics?

14. Is an autopsy performed to correct a surgical problem?

15. Does an author write an autobiography about someone else's life?

Can You Recall the Words?

Fill-in (I)

Score: 0 / 0 out of 13

1. pertaining to the science of animals (adj.): Z____________

2. pertaining to the science of plants (adj.): B____________

3. dissection of a corpse to determine the cause of death: A____________

4. story of one's life, self-written: A____________

5. pertaining to the science of all living matter (adj.): B____________

6. science of the measurement of figures: G____________

7. pertaining to the science of the earth's composition (adj.): G____________

8. branch of physics dealing with the composition of celestial bodies: A____________

9. star-shaped flower: A____________

10. very high in number; pertaining to the science of the heavens (adj.): A____________

11. science of heavenly bodies: A____________

12. science of the development of mankind: A____________

13. person who believes human events are influenced by the paths of the sun, moon, and planets: A____________

Fill-in (II)

Score: 0 / 0 out of 13

1. microscopic examination of living tissue: B____________

2. self-government: A____________

3. time measurer for music: M____________

4. voyager among the stars: A____________

5. traveler through the universe: C____________

6. great misfortune: D____________

7. mapping of the earth (noun): G____________

8. self-governing (adj.): A____________

9. diagram used in astrology: Z____________

10. pertaining to such a diagram (adj.): Z____________

11. pertaining to ships, sailing, etc.: N____________

12. star-shaped symbol: A____________

13. story of a person's life: B____________

Origins — Cutting In and Out

Flies, bees, beetles, wasps, and other insects are segmented creatures — head, thorax, and abdomen. Where these parts join, there appears to the imaginative eye a "cutting in" of the body.

Hence the branch of zoology dealing with insects is aptly named entomology, from Greek en-, in, plus tome, a cutting. The adjective is entomological (enʹ-tə-mə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl).

(The word insect makes the same point — it is built on Latin in-, in, plus sectus, a form of the verb meaning to cut.)

The prefix ec-, from Greek ek-, means out. (The Latin prefix, you will recall, is ex-.) Combine ec- with tome to derive the words for surgical procedures in which parts are "cut out," or removed: tonsillectomy (the tonsils), appendectomy (the appendix), mastectomy (the breast), hysterectomy (the uterus), prostatectomy (the prostate), etc.

Combine ec- with Greek kentron, center (the Latin root, as we have discovered, is centrum), to derive eccentric (ək-SENʹ-trik) — out of the center, hence deviating from the normal in behavior, attitudes, etc., or unconventional, odd, strange. The noun is eccentricity (ekʹ-sən-TRISʹ-ə-tee).

Origins — More Cuts

The Greek prefix a- makes a root negative; the atom (ATʹ-əm) was so named at a time when it was considered the smallest possible particle of an element, that is, one that could not be cut any further. (We have long since split the atom, of course, with results, as in most technological advances, both good and evil.) The adjective is atomic (ə-TOMʹ-ik).

The Greek prefix ana- has a number of meanings, one of which is up, as in anatomy (ə-NATʹ-ə-mee), originally the cutting up of a plant or animal to determine its structure, later the bodily structure itself. The adjective is anatomical (anʹ-ə-TOMʹ-ə-kəl).

Originally any book that was part of a larger work of many volumes was called a tome (TŌM) — etymologically, a part cut from the whole. Today, the word is used for any book, but usually one that is large and heavy, or dull and difficult to read.

Greek dicha, in two, combined with tome gives us dichotomy (dī-KOTʹ-ə-mee) — a splitting or cutting in two, a division into two parts. The adjective is dichotomous (dī-KOTʹ-ə-məs), the verb dichotomize (dī-KOTʹ-ə-mīzʹ).

Origins — The Epitome and Phil- Words

The Greek prefix epi- means on or upon. The epitome (ə-PITʹ-ə-mee) of something is a condensation, a summary, or a representation of the whole — a part "cut on" the whole, so to speak. To epitomize (ə-PITʹ-ə-mīzʹ) is to make an epitome of, to be the epitome of, to summarize.

Philology (fə-LOLʹ-ə-jee) — the study of language, linguistics. Built on Greek philein, to love, and logos, word. The adjective is philological (filʹ-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl).

Philanthropy (fə-LANʹ-thrə-pee) — love of mankind, charitable works. The adjective is philanthropic (filʹ-ən-THROPʹ-ik), the practitioner a philanthropist (fə-LANʹ-thrə-pist).

A philanderer (fə-LANʹ-dər-ər) — literally a "lover of men" — actually one who engages in extramarital sexual affairs. The verb is philander (fə-LANʹ-dər).

A philter (FILʹ-tər) is a love potion, an aphrodisiac.

An aphrodisiac (afʹ-rə-DIZʹ-ee-akʹ) is anything that arouses sexual desire — named after Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love. The adjective is aphrodisiacal (afʹ-rə-də-ZĪʹ-ə-kəl).

Origins — Books, England, and Society

A bibliophile (BIBʹ-lee-ə-fīlʹ) is a lover and collector of books, built on Greek biblion, book, and philein, to love.

An Anglophile (ANGʹ-glə-fīlʹ) is one who admires and is fond of English customs, culture, etc. Built on Latin Anglus, English, and philein.

Semantics (sə-MANʹ-tiks) is the science of word meanings and their psychological effects. The adjective is semantic or semantical.

Sociology (sōʹ-shee-OLʹ-ə-jee or sōʹ-see-OLʹ-ə-jee) is the study of social structures and customs. Built on Latin socius, companion,¹ and logos. The adjective is sociological.

An asocial (ay-SŌʹ-shəl) person is one who is withdrawn from contact with other people — the prefix a- is the Greek negative.

¹ Companion itself has an interesting etymology — Latin com-, with, plus panis, bread. If you are social, you enjoy breaking bread with companions. Pantry also comes from panis, though far more than bread is stored there.

Can You Pronounce the Words?

Pronunciation (I)

entomology (enʹ-tə-MOLʹ-ə-jee)
entomological (enʹ-tə-mə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
eccentric (ək-SENʹ-trik)
eccentricity (ekʹ-sən-TRISʹ-ə-tee)
atom (ATʹ-əm)
atomic (ə-TOMʹ-ik)
anatomy (ə-NATʹ-ə-mee)
anatomical (anʹ-ə-TOMʹ-ə-kəl)
tome (TŌM)
dichotomy (dī-KOTʹ-ə-mee)
dichotomous (dī-KOTʹ-ə-məs)
dichotomize (dī-KOTʹ-ə-mīzʹ)

Pronunciation (II)

epitome (ə-PITʹ-ə-mee)
epitomize (ə-PITʹ-ə-mīzʹ)
philology (fə-LOLʹ-ə-jee)
philological (filʹ-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
linguistics (ling-GWISʹ-tiks)
philanthropy (fə-LANʹ-thrə-pee)
philanthropist (fə-LANʹ-thrə-pist)
philanthropic (filʹ-ən-THROPʹ-ik)
philander (fə-LANʹ-dər)
philanderer (fə-LANʹ-dər-ər)

Pronunciation (III)

philter (FILʹ-tər)
aphrodisiac (afʹ-rə-DIZʹ-ee-akʹ)
aphrodisiacal (afʹ-rə-də-ZĪʹ-ə-kəl)
bibliophile (BIBʹ-lee-ə-fīlʹ)
Anglophile (ANGʹ-glə-fīlʹ)
semantics (sə-MANʹ-tiks)
semantic (sə-MANʹ-tik)
semantical (sə-MANʹ-tə-kəl)
sociology (sōʹ-shee-OLʹ-ə-jee or sōʹ-see-OLʹ-ə-jee)
sociological (sōʹ-shee-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl or sōʹ-see-ə-LOJʹ-ə-kəl)
asocial (ay-SŌʹ-shəl)

Can You Work with the Words?

Match (I)

Matched: 0 / 10

Match (II)

Matched: 0 / 10

Do You Understand the Words?

Score: 0 / 0 out of 10

1. Is a philanderer likely to be faithful to a spouse?

2. Did Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde lead a dichotomous existence?

3. Is an egoist the epitome of selfishness?

4. Is a philanthropist antisocial?

5. Is an aphrodisiac intended to reduce sexual interest?

6. Is a bibliophile's chief aim the enjoyment of literature?

7. Does a philologist understand etymology?

8. Is a semanticist interested in more than the dictionary meanings of words?

9. Is an asocial person interested in improving social conditions?

10. Is a light novel considered a tome?

Can You Recall the Words?

Score: 0 / 0 out of 20

1. pertaining to the study of social customs (adj.): S____________

2. pertaining to the psychological effects of words (adj.): S____________

3. lover and collector of books: B____________

4. make love promiscuously: P____________

5. pertaining to the science of linguistics (adj.): P____________

6. pertaining to the study of insects (adj.): E____________

7. one who admires British customs: A____________

8. smallest particle, so-called: A____________

9. pertaining to the structure of a body (adj.): A____________

10. a dull, heavy book: T____________

11. split in two (adj.): D____________

12. to split in two: D____________

13. a condensation, summary, or representation of the whole: E____________

14. to stand for the whole; to summarize: E____________

15. pertaining to charitable activities (adj.): P____________

16. out of the norm; odd: E____________

17. one who "plays around": P____________

18. arousing sexual desire (adj.): A____________

19. science of the manner in which groups function: S____________

20. self-isolated from contact with people: A____________

Chapter Review — Do You Recognize the Words?

Score: 0 / 0 out of 10

1. Student of the stars and other heavenly phenomena:

2. Student of plant life:

3. Student of insect life:

4. Student of the meaning and psychology of words:

5. Analysis of living tissue:

6. That which arouses sexual desire:

7. Self-governing:

8. Part that represents the whole:

9. One who physically travels in space:

10. One who has extramarital affairs:

Can You Recognize Roots?

Write the meaning of each root.

Score: 0 / 0 out of 20

1. anthropos (example: anthropology):

2. logos (example: philology):

3. astron (example: astronomy):

4. nautes (example: astronaut):

5. nomos (example: metronome):

6. autos (example: autonomy):

7. ge / geo- (example: geology):

8. graphein (example: biography):

9. opsis / optikos (example: autopsy):

10. zoion (example: zodiac):

11. tome (example: entomology):

12. sectus (example: insect):

13. lingua (example: linguistics):

14. philein (example: philanthropy):

15. sophos (example: philosophy):

16. biblion (example: bibliophile):

17. Anglus (example: Anglophile):

18. socius (example: sociology):

19. logos (example: biology):

20. bios (example: biopsy):

Teaser Questions for the Amateur Etymologist

1. Recalling the root sophos, wise, and thinking of the English word moron, write the name given to a second-year student in high school or college. Etymologically, what does this word mean?

2. Based on the root sophos, what word means worldly-wise?

3. Thinking of bibliophile, define bibliomaniac:

4. These three words, based on lingua, tongue, use prefixes we have discussed. Can you define each one?

(a) monolingual — (b) bilingual — (c) trilingual

Can you guess the meaning of multilingual? And linguist? What do you suppose the Latin root multus means? (Think of multitude.)

5. With Anglophile as your model, can you figure out what country each of the following admires?

(a) Francophile — (b) Russophile — (c) Hispanophile — (d) Germanophile — (e) Nipponophile — (f) Sinophile

6. Using roots you have learned, and with bibliophile as your model, can you construct a word for:

(a) one who loves males — (b) one who loves women — (c) one who loves children — (d) one who loves animals — (e) one who loves plants

Where to Get New Ideas

People with superior vocabularies, I have submitted, are the people with ideas. The words they know are verbal symbols of the ideas they are familiar with — reduce one and you must reduce the other, for ideas cannot exist without verbalization. Freud once had an idea — and had to coin a whole new vocabulary to make his idea clear to the world. Those who are familiar with Freud's theories know all the words that explain them — the unconscious, the ego, the id, the superego, rationalization, Oedipus complex, and so on. Splitting the atom was once a new idea — anyone familiar with it knew something about fission, isotope, radioactive, cyclotron, etc.

Remember this: your vocabulary indicates the alertness and range of your mind. The words you know show the extent of your understanding of what's going on in the world. The size of your vocabulary varies directly with the degree to which you are growing intellectually.

You have covered so far in this book several hundred words. Having learned these words, you have begun to think of an equal number of new ideas. A new word is not just another pattern of syllables with which to clutter up your mind — a new word is a new idea to help you think, to help you understand the thoughts of others, to help you express your own thoughts, to help you live a richer intellectual life.

Realizing these facts, you may become impatient. You will begin to doubt that a book like this can cover all the ideas that an alert and intellectually mature adult wishes to be acquainted with. Your doubt is well-founded.

One of the chief purposes of this book is to get you started, to give you enough of a push so that you will begin to gather momentum, to stimulate you enough so that you will want to start gathering your own ideas.

Where can you gather them? From good books on new topics.

How can you gather them? By reading on a wide range of new subjects.

46 words from Chapter 6

anthropologist (anʹ-thrə-POLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies the development of the human race

Forms: anthropology (n.) anthropological (adj.)

Root: Greek anthropos — "mankind"

astronomer (ə-STRONʹ-ə-mər)

Scientist who studies the heavens — planets, galaxies, stars

Forms: astronomy (n.) astronomical (adj.)

Root: Greek astron — "star" + nomos — "arrangement, law"

geologist (jee-OLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies the earth's composition and structure

Forms: geology (n.) geological (adj.)

Root: Greek ge — "earth"

biologist (bī-OLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies all living organisms

Forms: biology (n.) biological (adj.)

Root: Greek bios — "life"

botanist (BOTʹ-ə-nist)

Scientist who studies plant life

Forms: botany (n.) botanical (adj.)

Root: Greek botane — "plant"

zoologist (zō-OLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies animal life

Forms: zoology (n.) zoological (adj.)

Root: Greek zoion — "animal"

entomologist (enʹ-tə-MOLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies insects

Forms: entomology (n.) entomological (adj.)

Root: Greek en- — "in" + tome — "a cutting"

philologist (fə-LOLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies language and linguistics

Forms: philology (n.) philological (adj.)

Root: Greek philein — "to love" + logos — "word"

semanticist (sə-MANʹ-tə-sist)

Scientist who studies word meanings and their psychological effects

Forms: semantics (n.) semantic (adj.) semantical (adj.)

sociologist (sō-shee-OLʹ-ə-jist)

Scientist who studies social structures, customs, and relationships

Forms: sociology (n.) sociological (adj.)

Root: Latin socius — "companion"

astrology (ə-STROLʹ-ə-jee)

Theory that planets and stars influence human events

Forms: astrologer (n.) astrological (adj.)

astronaut (ASʹ-trə-notʹ)

"Sailor among the stars" — one who travels in space

Root: Greek astron — "star" + nautes — "sailor"

cosmonaut (KOZʹ-mə-notʹ)

"Sailor of the universe" — Russian term for space traveler

Root: Greek kosmos — "universe" + nautes — "sailor"

nautical (NOTʹ-ə-kəl)

Pertaining to sailors, ships, or navigation

aster (ASʹ-tər)

Star-shaped flower

asterisk (ASʹ-tə-risk)

Star-shaped typographical symbol (*)

disaster (də-ZASʹ-tər)

A great misfortune

Forms: disastrous (adj.)

autonomy (aw-TONʹ-ə-mee)

Self-rule, self-government

Forms: autonomous (adj.)

Root: Greek autos — "self" + nomos — "law"

metronome (METʹ-rə-nōmʹ)

Instrument to measure musical time

Root: Greek metron — "measurement" + nomos — "law"

autobiography (awʹ-tə-bī-OGʹ-rə-fee)

The story of one's own life, self-written

Forms: autobiographer (n.) autobiographical (adj.)

biography (bī-OGʹ-rə-fee)

The story of someone's life

Forms: biographer (n.) biographical (adj.)

Root: Greek bios — "life" + graphein — "to write"

geometry (jee-OMʹ-ə-tree)

Mathematical science of figures and shapes; etymologically "earth measurement"

Forms: geometrician (n.) geometric (adj.)

geography (jee-OGʹ-rə-fee)

Science of earth-mapping

Forms: geographer (n.) geographical (adj.)

biopsy (BĪʹ-op-see)

Microscopic examination of living tissue

Root: Greek bios — "life" + opsis — "view"

autopsy (AWʹ-top-see)

Dissection and examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death

Root: Greek autos — "self" + opsis — "view"

zodiac (ZŌʹ-dee-ak)

Diagram showing the paths of the sun, moon, and planets

Forms: zodiacal (adj.)

eccentric (ək-SENʹ-trik)

Deviating from the normal; unconventional, odd, strange

Forms: eccentricity (n.)

Root: Greek ek- — "out" + kentron — "center"

atom (ATʹ-əm)

Smallest particle of an element (etymologically "not cuttable")

Forms: atomic (adj.)

Root: Greek a- — "not" + tome — "a cutting"

anatomy (ə-NATʹ-ə-mee)

The bodily structure of an organism; originally the cutting up of a body

Forms: anatomical (adj.)

Root: Greek ana- — "up" + tome — "a cutting"

tome (TŌM)

A large, heavy, or dull book

Root: Greek tome — "a cutting" (part cut from a larger work)

dichotomy (dī-KOTʹ-ə-mee)

A splitting or division into two parts

Forms: dichotomous (adj.) dichotomize (v.)

Root: Greek dicha — "in two" + tome — "a cutting"

epitome (ə-PITʹ-ə-mee)

A condensation, summary, or representation of the whole

Forms: epitomize (v.)

Root: Greek epi- — "on, upon" + tome — "a cutting"

philanthropy (fə-LANʹ-thrə-pee)

Love of mankind; charitable works

Forms: philanthropist (n.) philanthropic (adj.)

Root: Greek philein — "to love" + anthropos — "mankind"

philanderer (fə-LANʹ-dər-ər)

One who engages in extramarital affairs

Forms: philander (v.)

philter (FILʹ-tər)

A love potion; an aphrodisiac

aphrodisiac (afʹ-rə-DIZʹ-ee-akʹ)

Anything that arouses sexual desire

Forms: aphrodisiacal (adj.)

Root: Named after Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love

bibliophile (BIBʹ-lee-ə-fīlʹ)

A lover and collector of books

Root: Greek biblion — "book" + philein — "to love"

Anglophile (ANGʹ-glə-fīlʹ)

One who admires English customs, culture, etc.

Root: Latin Anglus — "English" + Greek philein — "to love"

asocial (ay-SŌʹ-shəl)

Withdrawn from contact with other people

Root: Greek a- — "not" + Latin socius — "companion"

antisocial (an-tee-SŌʹ-shəl)

Actively dislikes people; behaves in ways detrimental or destructive to society

Root: Greek anti- — "against" + Latin socius — "companion"

nausea

Etymologically, ship-sickness or seasickness; a feeling of sickness in the stomach

Root: Greek naus — "ship"

astrophysics (asʹ-trə-FIZʹ-iks)

The branch of physics dealing with heavenly bodies

Root: Greek astron — "star" + physikos — "of nature"

tonsillectomy

Surgical removal of the tonsils; one of a group of -ectomy words for procedures in which parts are "cut out"

Related: appendectomy mastectomy hysterectomy prostatectomy

Root: Greek ek- — "out" + tome — "a cutting"

philosophy

By etymology, the love of wisdom

Forms: philosopher (n.)

Root: Greek philein — "to love" + sophos — "wise"

philharmonic

Loving music or harmony; used in the names of orchestras and musical societies

Root: Greek philein — "to love" + harmonia — "harmony"

linguistics (ling-GWISʹ-tiks)

The science of language; more commonly used term for what is also called philology

Root: Latin lingua — "tongue"