Hydrology
/ˌhaɪˈdrɒlədʒi/noun
The scientific study of water and its movement, distribution, and properties on Earth.
Did you know?Hydrology comes from Greek roots that meant “water” and “study,” and that same ancient -logy ending became one of the most powerful “knowledge” markers in modern language.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
hydōr
“water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-logia
“study, discourse, account”
Late Latin
Latin
hydrologia
“a discourse or treatise on water”
17th–18th Century
English
hydrology
“the study of water and its properties”
Modern English
English
hydrology
“the scientific study of water and its movement, distribution, and properties on Earth”