( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually paleo- ) / ˌpæliɒnˈtɒlədʒi; ˌpeɪl-; NAmE ˌpeɪliɑːnˈtɑːl-/ noun
[ U ] the study of fossils (= the remains of animals or plants in rocks) as a guide to the history of life on earth
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from palaeo- + Greek onta beings (neuter plural of ōn , present participle of einai be) + -logy .