thaumatology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObscureAcademic, Historical, Literary / Technical
Quick answer
What does “thaumatology” mean?
The study of miracles or marvellous events.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The study of miracles or marvellous events.
A branch of speculative philosophy, theology, or folklore concerned with investigating, cataloguing, or explaining phenomena considered miraculous, supernatural, or paranormal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of the 19th-century occult revival, parapsychology, or antiquarian scholarship. It may sound deliberately old-fashioned or whimsical.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic texts on historical theology or Victorian esoterica.
Grammar
How to Use “thaumatology” in a Sentence
The thaumatology of [era/religion]A treatise on thaumatologyAn expert in thaumatologyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thaumatology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No established verb form. Hypothetical: 'to thaumatologise' would be an archaic nonce verb.]
American English
- [No established verb form. Hypothetical: 'to thaumatologize' would be an archaic nonce verb.]
adverb
British English
- [No established adverb form. Hypothetical: 'thaumatologically speaking' would be a forced construction.]
American English
- [No established adverb form. Hypothetical: 'thaumatologically speaking' would be a forced construction.]
adjective
British English
- The thaumatological perspective fell out of favour with the rise of modern science.
- His library contained many thaumatological manuscripts.
American English
- She took a thaumatological approach to the saint's legend.
- The society published a thaumatological journal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in niche historical, theological, or folklore studies to denote a formalized, often antiquated, approach to miracles.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be met with confusion.
Technical
Can be used self-consciously in esoteric or paranormal literature to lend an air of scholarly seriousness.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thaumatology”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thaumatology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thaumatology”
- Misspelling: 'thaumotology', 'thaumetology'.
- Confusing it with 'thaumaturgy' (the act of performing miracles, not the study).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a historical or speculative field of study, not a recognized modern scientific discipline.
Thaumatology is the *study* of miracles. Thaumaturgy is the *practice* of magic or miracle-working.
Almost exclusively in academic writing on the history of religion, magic, folklore, or the occult, particularly from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
There are modern scholars who study the history of ideas about miracles, but they would typically not use the title 'thaumatologist', preferring terms like 'historian of religion' or 'folklorist'.
The study of miracles or marvellous events.
Thaumatology is usually academic, historical, literary / technical in register.
Thaumatology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɔːməˈtɒlədʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɔːməˈtɑːlədʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms for this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'THAUMaturgy' (magic/wonder-working) + 'OLOGY' (study of) = Thaumatology, the study of wonders/miracles.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A CATALOGUE (of wonders); UNDERSTANDING IS CLASSIFYING (the supernatural).
Practice
Quiz
Thaumatology is primarily concerned with: