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A.Word.A.Day--nosology

Pronunciation Sound Clip RealAudio

This week's theme: words related to medicine.

nosology (no-SOL-uh-jee) noun

1. The branch of medical science that deals with classification of diseases.

2. A systematic classification or list of diseases.

[From New Latin nosologia, from Greek nosos (disease) + -logy (study).]

No, you wouldn't go to a nosologist if you have nose trouble. The term for the branch of medicine that deals with the ear, nose, and throat is otorhinolaryngology (or otolaryngology). You have to use all three to pronounce it.

See more usage examples of nosology in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

-Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)

"Marvin's Room is so loaded up with terminal illness that it has as much nosology as narrative: there are paralysing strokes, mental illness, asphyxiation, leukaemia, senility and chronic back pain. Even the doctor's receptionist is on lithium. But above all, there's the Big C -- Crying." Matthew Sweet; Cinema: When DJ Just Stands For Dirty Jokes; Independent on Sunday (London, UK); Jun 22, 1997.

X-Bonus

Evil is like a shadow - it has no real substance of its own, it is simply a lack of light. You cannot cause a shadow to disappear by trying to fight it, stamp on it, by railing against it, or any other form of emotional or physical resistance. In order to cause a shadow to disappear, you must shine light on it. -Shakti Gawain, teacher and author (b. 1948)

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