n.
Pronunciation: ˌ p ā -l ē - ˌ än- ' tä-l ə -j ē , - ə n-, esp Brit ˌ pa-
Function: noun
Etymology: French paléontologie, from palé- pale- + Greek onta existing things (fr. neuter plural of ont-, ō n, present participle of einai to be) + French -logie -logy ― more at IS
Date: 1837
: a science dealing with the life of past geological periods as known from fossil remains
– pa · le · on · to · log · i · cal \ - ˌ än-t ə - ' lä-ji-k ə l \ also pa · le · on · to · log · ic \ -jik \ adjective
– pa · le · on · tol · o · gist \ - ˌ än- ' tä-l ə -jist, - ə n- \ noun