aetiology
noun /ˌiːtiˈɒlədʒi/
/ˌiːtiˈɑːlədʒi/
(British English) (North American English etiology)
(plural aetiologies)
(medical)- [uncountable, countable] the cause of a disease or medical condition
- [uncountable] the scientific study of the causes of disease
Word Originmid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek aitiologia, from aitia ‘a cause’ + -logia (see -ology).