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palaetiology

noun
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pa·​lae·​ti·​ol·​o·​gy
variants: or less commonly paletiology \ ⸗ˌ⸗⸗ˈäləjē \
plural -s

Definition of palaetiology

: explanation of past events (as in geology) by the laws of causation

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History and Etymology for palaetiology

pale- + etiology

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