Oneirology
/ˌɒn.aɪˈrɒl.ə.dʒi/noun
The scientific or systematic study of dreams.
Did you know?Ancient Greek oneirocritics treated dreams as potentially divine messages, while modern oneirology studies them through psychology, neuroscience, and sleep science.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leǵ-
“To gather or collect; the distant root behind the “-logy” part through the idea of collecting or explaining knowledge.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄνειρος (oneiros)
“Dream; especially a dream understood as a vision or message.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-λογία (-logia)
“The study, account, or systematic treatment of a subject.”
19th Century
English
oneirology
“A learned term formed from Greek oneiros, “dream,” and -logia, “study.””
Modern English
English
oneirology
“The scientific or systematic study of dreams.”