Aetiology

Aetiology
The study of the causes. For example, of a disorder. The word "aetiology" is mainly used in medicine, where it is the science that deals with the causes or origin of disease, the factors which produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder. Today in medicine one hears (or reads) that "the aetiology is unknown." Translation — we don't know the cause. Aetiology is the preferred spelling in some countries, including the UK, whereas "etiology" without an "a" has taken over in the US. The word "aetiology" comes from the Greek "aitia", cause + "logos", discourse.

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n.
1. the study or science of the causes of disease.
2. the cause of a specific disease.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • AEtiology — [AE] ti*ol o*gy, n. [L. aetologia, Gr. ?; ? cause + ? description: cf. F. [ e]tiologie.] 1. The science, doctrine, or demonstration of causes; esp., the investigation of the causes of any disease; the science of the origin and development of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • aetiology — [ēt΄ē äl′ə jē] n. alt. sp. of ETIOLOGY …   English World dictionary

  • aetiology — UK [ˌiːtɪˈɒlədʒɪ] / US [ˌɪtɪˈɑlədʒɪ] noun Word forms aetiology : singular aetiology plural aetiologies medical 1) [countable/uncountable] the cause of a disease 2) [uncountable] the study of the causes of diseases …   English dictionary

  • aetiology — An aetiological story professes to explain causes. The Pentateuch, especially Genesis, is rich in stories designed to give explanations about the origin of natural phenomena and of customs in religious worship. How did the rainbow come into… …   Dictionary of the Bible

  • aetiology — /itiˈɒlədʒi / (say eetee oluhjee) noun 1. the systematic study of the causes of anything, especially of diseases. 2. the body of knowledge relating to this study. 3. Medicine cause or origin: a disease of unknown aetiology. Also, etiology. {Latin …  

  • Aetiology (blog) — Aetiology is a web log, or blog that is written by Tara C. Smith, PhD, a faculty member with an expertise in epidemiology working in the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. Its stated goal is to discuss causes, origins, evolution… …   Wikipedia

  • aetiology — pathology pa*thol o*gy ( j[y^]), n.; pl. {pathologies} ( j[i^]z). [Gr. pa qos a suffering, disease + logy: cf. F. pathologie.] 1. (Med.) The science which treats of diseases, their nature, causes, progress, symptoms, etc. [1913 Webster] Note:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • aetiology — chiefly British variant of etiology …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • aetiology — see etiology …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • aetiology — aetiologic /ee tee euh loj ik/, aetiological adj. aetiologically, adv. aetiologist, n. /ee tee ol euh jee/, n., pl. aetiologies. etiology. * * * …   Universalium

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