geology

Where does the word "geology" come from? It comes from Greek ge, passing through New Latin before entering English (1795).

Geology’s story begins in Greek: ge meant “earth.” The root of 'geography' and 'geometry'. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in New Latin as geologia. Formed from Greek ge (earth) and -logia (study of). It reached English by 1795 as geology. Settled as the English word for the scientific study of the earth. Today, geology means the scientific study of the earth's structure, history, and processes.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ge "earth", the root of 'geography' and 'geometry'.
2. Stage 2 · New Latin · 1700s geologia "the study of the earth", formed from Greek ge (earth) and -logia (study of).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1795 geology "the scientific study of the earth's structure and history", settled as the English word for the scientific study of the earth.