Aetiologize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To explain the cause or origin of a phenomenon or event by providing a detailed account
2. To give a reasoned account or narrative that clarifies how something began or why it exists
3. To trace back and describe the underlying causes or origins of a particular situation or condition

Etymology: "Aetiologize" is simply "aetiology" with the verb-making ending "-ize" attached, so it means to give the causes of something or to account for it by explaining its origin. The "-ize" ending comes from Greek "-izein" by way of Latin "-izare", and English has used it to turn nouns and adjectives into verbs since the Middle Ages, which is why the pattern is so productive. The base word "aetiology" comes from Greek "aitiologia", built from "aitia", meaning "cause" or "responsibility", and "-logia", meaning "discourse" or "study of". Its original Greek sense was the giving of a reason or cause, and it passed into English as a term for the study of causes, especially in medicine, where it means the cause of a disease. Its spelling with "ae" reflects the Latinised Greek form, while American English usually writes "etiologize".

Synonyms: explain, attribute, ascribe, account for, assign