Wednesday, August 17, 2011

OROLOGY

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 17 August 2011

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OROLOGY  (n. pl. OROLOGIES)

Definition(s):
  1. (n.) the study of mountains; the branch of physical geography that deals with mountains and mountain systems

Useful information for game players:
  • Front hooks: H-
  • Back hooks: (none)
  • Anagrams: (none)
  • Longer extensions: METE-, BIOMETE-
  • Wraparounds: (none)
  • Other Spellings: (none)
  • Related Forms: OROLOGIST (n.)

Epilogue:
The Greek oros (“mountain”) has given English a pile of words.  OROLOGY or OROGRAPHY is the scientific study of mountains, which no doubt includes interest in OROGENY or OROGENESIS, the formation of mountains.  The oro- combining form is also occasionally used to mean “elevation,” as in OROMETER, a type of barometer that also measures elevation above sea level.  Since mountain formation occurs over thousands of years, it is fitting that the addition of one letter yields a new word, HOROLOGY, meaning “the science of measuring or studying time.”

This week’s theme: Words starting with the letter O

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