somatology

noun

so·​ma·​tol·​o·​gy ˌsō-mə-ˈtä-lə-jē 

: a branch of anthropology primarily concerned with the comparative study of human evolution, variation, and classification especially through measurement and observation

somatological

ˌsō-mə-tə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

sō-ˌma-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin somatologia, from somat- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

circa 1878, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

somatology

noun

so·​ma·​tol·​o·​gy ˌsō-mə-ˈtäl-ə-jē 

plural somatologies

: physical anthropology

somatological

ˌsō-mət-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective