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es·cha·tol·o·gy

(ĕs′kə-tŏlə-jē)

1. The branch of theology that is concerned with the end of the world or of humankind.

2. A belief or a doctrine concerning the ultimate or final things, such as death, the destiny of humanity, the Second Coming, or the Last Judgment.

[Greek eskhatos, last; see eghs in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + -LOGY.]

es·chat′o·logi·cal (ĭ-skăt′l-ŏjĭ-kəl, ĕs′kə-tə-lŏj-) adj.

es·chat′o·logi·cal·ly adv.

es′cha·tolo·gist n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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