aetiology

Noun

  1. the cause of a disease
  2. the philosophical study of causation
  1. Medicine the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition the importance of sunlight in the aetiology of melanoma | a group of distinct diseases with different aetiologies

Medicine the causation of diseases and disorders as a subject of investigation

  1. the investigation or attribution of the cause or reason for something, often expressed in terms of historical or mythical explanation

Origin

mid 16th century : via medieval Latin from Greek aitiologia , from aitia a cause + -logia (see -logy )