Teratology
English
Wikipedia: Teratology
Etymology
From the prefix terato- + the suffix -logy. Ultimately from Ancient Greek τέρας (téras, “monster”) + -λογία (-logía, “study of”).
Pronunciation
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Noun
Teratology (usually uncountable)
1. (medicine) The study of congenital abnormalities and malformations, including their development, causes, and biological mechanisms.
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2. (toxicology) The study of the mechanisms and teratogenic agents (or teratogens) involved in producing malformations.
Example of a famous teratogen (Thalidomide)
3. (mythology, fiction) The study or cataloging of monsters.
Examples in popular culture
References
- Century Dictionary (1911)