Also spelled palaeontology
Freq #52491
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noun
· the scientific study of...
palaeontologyfossil science
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Etymology
Borrowed in the nineteenth century from French paleontologie, formed from Greek palaios, 'ancient,' on (genitive ontos), 'being,' and -logia, 'study.' The spelling palaeontology preserves the traditional British palaeo- form, while American English usually uses paleo-.