Palaetiology

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  palaetiology \palaetiology\, Palaetiology \Pa*l[ae]`ti*ol"o*gy\,
     n. [Pal[ae]o- + [ae]tiology.]
     The science which explains, by the law of causation, the past
     condition and changes of the earth; the explanation of past
     events in terms of scientific causes, such as geological
     causes. -- {Pa*l[ae]`ti*o*log"ic*al}, a.


  
     Syn: paletiology.
          [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  palaetiology
       n : the explanation of past events in terms of scientific causes
           (as geological causes) [syn: {paletiology}]