attention please to global SCIENCE Revolution

SCIENCE (:-,-:)

cience fiction

1929 (first attested in "Science Wonder Stories" magazine), though there is an isolated use from 1851; abbreviated form sci-fi is from 1955.

science

c.1300, "knowledge (of something) acquired by study," also "a particular branch of knowledge," from O.Fr. science, from L. scientia "knowledge," from sciens (gen. scientis), prp. of scire "to know," probably originally "to separate one thing from another, to distinguish," related to scindere "to cut, divide," from PIE base *skei- (cf. Gk. skhizein "to split, rend, cleave," Goth. skaidan, O.E. sceadan "to divide, separate;" see shed (v.)). Modern sense of "non-arts studies" is attested from 1678. The distinction is commonly understood as between theoretical truth (Gk. episteme) and methods for effecting practical results (tekhne), but science sometimes is used for practical applications and art for applications of skill. Main modern (restricted) sense of "body of regular or methodical observations or propositions ... concerning any subject or speculation" is attested from 1725; in 17c.-18c. this concept commonly was called philosophy. To blind (someone) with science "confuse by the use of big words or complex explanations" is attested from 1937, originally noted as a phrase from Australia and New Zealand.

physics

1580s, "natural science," from physic in sense of "natural science." Also see -ics. Specific sense of "science treating of properties of matter and energy" is from 1715. Physicist coined 1840 by the Rev. William Whewell (1794–1866), Eng. polymath, to denote a "cultivator of physics" as opposed to a physician.

pseudo-science

also pseudoscience, "a pretended or mistaken science," 1844, from pseudo- + science.

physiology

1560s, "study and description of natural objects," from L. physiologia "natural science, study of nature," from Gk. physiologia "natural science," from physio-, comb. form of physis "nature" (see physic) + logia "study." Meaning "science of the normal function of living things" is attested from 1610s. Related: Physiologic; physiologist.

politics (n.)

1520s, "science of government," from politic (adj.), modeled on Aristotle's ta politika "affairs of state," the name of his book on governing and governments, which was in English mid-15c. as "Polettiques." Also see -ics.

Politicks is the science of good sense, applied to public affairs, and, as those are forever changing, what is wisdom to-day would be folly and perhaps, ruin to-morrow. Politicks is not a science so properly as a business. It cannot have fixed principles, from which a wise man would never swerve, unless the inconstancy of men's view of interest and the capriciousness of the tempers could be fixed. [Fisher Ames (1758–1808)]

Meaning "a person's political allegiances or opinions" is from 1769.

ayurvedic

1917, "pertaining to traditional Hindu science of medicine," from ayurveda "science of life," from ayur "life" + veda "knowledge."

physic

c.1300, "art of healing, medical science," also "natural science" (c.1300), from O.Fr. fisike "natural science, art of healing" (12c.), from L. physica (fem. sing.) "study of nature," from Gk. physike episteme "knowledge of nature," from fem. of physikos "pertaining to nature," from physis "nature," from phyein "to bring forth, produce, make to grow" (cf. phyton "growth, plant," phyle "tribe, race," phyma "a growth, tumor") from PIE base *bheu- "to be exist, grow" (cf. O.E. beon "to be," see be). Especially in Gk. ta physika, lit. "the natural things," name of Aristotle's treatise on nature. The verb meaning "to dose with medicine" is attested from late 14c.

hermetic

c.1600 (implied in hermetically), "completely sealed," also (1630s) "dealing with occult science or alchemy," from L. hermeticus, from Gk. Hermes, god of science and art, among other things, identified by Neoplatonists, mystics, and alchemists with the Egyptian god Thoth as Hermes Trismegistos "Thrice-Great Hermes," who supposedly invented the process of making a glass tube airtight (a process in alchemy) using a secret seal.

perspective

late 14c., "science of optics," from O.Fr. perspective, from M.L. perspectiva ars "science of optics," from fem. of perspectivus "of sight, optical" from L. perspectus, pp. of perspicere "inspect, look through," from per- "through" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)). Sense of "art of drawing objects so as to give appearance of distance or depth" is first found 1590s, influenced by It. prospettiva, an artists' term. The figurative meaning "mental outlook over time" is first recorded 1762.

ideology

1796, "science of ideas," originally "philosophy of the mind which derives knowledge from the senses" (as opposed to metaphysics), from Fr. idéologie "study or science of ideas," coined by Fr. philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) from idéo- "of ideas," from Gk. idea (see idea) + -logy. Meaning "systematic set of ideas, doctrines" first recorded 1909.

Ideology ... is usually taken to mean, a prescriptive doctrine that is not supported by rational argument. [D.D. Raphael, "Problems of Political Philosophy," 1970]

scientific

1580s, from M.Fr. scientifique, from M.L. scientificus "pertaining to science," from L. scientia "knowledge" (see science) + -ficus "making" + facere "to make" (see factitious). Originally used to translate Gk. epistemonikos "making knowledge" in Aristotle's "Ethics." First record of scientific revolution is from 1803; scientific method is from 1854; scientific notation is from 1961. Related: Scientifical.

mathematic

late 14c. as singular, replaced by early 17c. by mathematics, from L. mathematica (pl.), from Gk. mathematike tekhne "mathematical science," fem. sing. of mathematikos (adj.) "relating to mathematics, scientific," from mathema (gen. mathematos) "science, knowledge, mathematical knowledge," related to manthanein "to learn," from PIE base *mn-/*men-/*mon- "to think, have one's mind aroused" (cf. Gk. menthere "to care," Lith. mandras "wide-awake," O.C.S. madru "wise, sage," Goth. mundonsis "to look at," Ger. munter "awake, lively").

Star Wars

name of a popular science fiction film released in 1977; also the informal name for a space-based missile defense system proposed in 1983 by U.S. president Ronald Reagan.

grok

"to understand empathically," 1961, arbitrary formation by U.S. science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, in his book "Stranger in a Strange Land." In use 1960s, perhaps obsolete now except in internet technology circles.

teleportation

1931, as a term in psychics and science fiction, from tele- + (trans)portation.

erg (1)

unit of energy in the C.G.S. system, coined 1873 by the British Association for the Advancement of Science from Gk. ergon "work" (see urge (v.)).

speciesism

"discrimination against certain animals based on assumption of human superiority," first attested 1975 in Richard D. Ryder's "Victims of Science," from species + -ism.

demographics

1967, the science of divining from demographic statistics; see demography + -ics. Originally in reference to TV audiences and advertisers.

electronics

1910, from electronic; cf. also -ics. The science of how electrons behave in vacuums, gas, semi-conductors, etc.

robotics

1941, from robot + -ics. Coined in a science fiction context by Russian-born U.S. author Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), who proposed the "Three Laws of Robotics" in 1968.

bioethics

coined 1970 by U.S. biochemist Van Rensselaer Potter II (1911–2001), who defined it as "Biology combined with diverse humanistic knowledge forging a science that sets a system of medical and environmental priorities for acceptable survival." From bio- + ethics.

-ology

suffix indicating "branch of knowledge, science," the usual form of -logy, with the -o- belonging to the preceding element. Related: -ologist.

scientist

1834, coined from L. scientia (see science) by the Rev. William Whewell (1794–1866), Eng. polymath, by analogy with artist.

Scientology

1951, system of beliefs founded by L. Ron Hubbard, perhaps directly from L. scientia (see science), or perhaps via Ger. scientologie (A. Nordenholz, 1937).

acoustics

1680s, "science of sound," from acoustic (also see -ics). Meaning "acoustic properties" of a building, etc., attested from 1885.

audiology

science of hearing and treatment of deafness, 1946, from audio- + -ology. Related: Audiologist.

economics

1580s, "art of managing a household," perhaps from Fr. économique (see economic); also see -ics. Meaning "science of wealth" is from 1792.

linguistics

"the science of languages," 1847; see linguistic; also see -ics.

phonics

1680s, "science of sound," from Gk. phone "sound" (see fame) + -ics. The meaning "method of teaching reading" is first attested 1908, though the system dates from 1844.

cyberspace

1982, often as two words at first, coined by science fiction writer William Gibson (best known for "Neuromancer") and used by him in a short story published in 1982, from cyber- (see cybernetics) + space.

ethics

"the science of morals," c.1600, pl. of M.E. ethik "study of morals" (see ethic). The word also traces to Ta Ethika, title of Aristotle's work.

neuroscience

1963, from neuro- + science.

kinematics

"science of motion," 1840, from Fr. cinématique (Ampère, 1834), from Gk. kinesis "movement, motion" (see cite).

android

"automaton resembling a human being," 1727, from Mod.L. androides, from Gk. andro- "human" + eides "form, shape." Listed as "rare" in OED (1879), popularized from c.1951 by science fiction writers.

musicology

"the study of the science of music," 1909, from music + -ology.

forestry

1690s, from O.Fr. foresterie, from forest (see forest). Originally “the privilege of a royal forest;” meaning “science of managing forests” is from 1859.

phrenology

1815, from Gk., lit. "mental science," from phren (gen. phrenos) "mind" + -logy "study of." Applied to the theory of mental faculties originated by Gall and Spurzheim that led to the 1840s mania for reading personality clues in the shape of one's skull and the "bumps" of the head.

magnetism

1610s, from Mod.L. magnetismus (see magnet + -ism). Figurative sense of "personal charm" is from 1650s; in the hypnotic sense it is from Mesmer (see mesmerize). Meaning "science of magnetics" is recorded from early 19c.

anthropology

"science of the natural history of man," 1590s, coined from Gk. anthropo- + -logia "study of." In Aristotle, anthropologos is used literally, as "speaking of man." Related: Anthropological (1825); anthropologist (1798).

mutant (n.)

1901, in the biological sense, from L. mutantem (nom. mutans) "changing," prp. of mutare "to change" (see mutable). In the science fiction sense, it is attested from 1954.

physiological

c.1600, "pertaining to natural science," from physiology + -ical. 1814 as "pertaining to physiology." Related: Physiologically.

professor

late 14c., from L. professor "person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of highest rank," agent noun from profitieri "lay claim to, declare openly" (see profess). As a title prefixed to a name, it dates from 1706. Short form prof is recorded from 1838.

armory

"place where arms are manufactured," 1841, Amer.Eng., from arm (2) + -ory. Earlier, "arsenal" (1530s) and "the science of heraldry" (late 15c.), from O.Fr. armoierie, from armoier "to blazon," from L. arma "weapons."

hakeem

1580s, physician in Arab countries, from Arabic hakim "wise," from stem of hakuma "he was wise;" whence also hakam "judge," hikmah "wisdom, science."

astronaut

coined 1929 (but popularized 1961) from astro- + nautes "sailor" (see naval). Fr. astronautique (adj.) had been coined 1927 by "J.H. Rosny," pen name of Belgian-born science fiction writer Joseph Henri Honoré Boex (1856–1940).

Terran

"of or pertaining to the planet Earth," 1881, in science fiction writing, from L. terra (see terrain). Also used as a noun meaning "inhabitant of the Earth" (1953). An earlier form, terrene was used in M.E. in sense of "belonging to this world, earthly, secular, temporal" (c.1300), later, "of the Earth as a planet" (1630s).

oncology

1857, coined in Eng. from Mod.L. onco- "tumor," from Gk. onkos "mass, bulk" + Eng. -logy "science or study of," from Gk. logia, from logos "word."

toolbar

1960 as a frame fitted to a tractor to hold tools; from tool (n.) + bar (1). Computer sense is attested from 1991.

Among 100-odd new features in Excel 3.0 is a row of "buttons" on the screen called the Toolbar. Located under the pull-down menus, the Toolbar provides rapid access to frequently used commands. ["Popular Science," April 1991.]

meteorology

1560s, "science of the atmosphere, weather forecasting," from Gk. meteorologia "treatise on celestial phenomena," from meteoron (see meteor) + -logia "treatment of." Related: Meteorological; meteorologist