Eco Words: “autecology” to “economy”,
Part 1 of 2.
Words that include: eco, oeco-, oec-, oiko-, oik- (Greek: house, household affairs [environment, habitat], home, dwelling; used in one extensive sense as, “environment”.
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autecology, autecological:
The ecology of an individual organism or species.
bioecologist:
A specialist who studies the relationships of organisms to their natural environments.
bioecology, ecobiology, ecobiotic:
The study of the relationships of organisms to their natural environments.
dioecious, dioecy, dioic:
In biology, having the male and female reproductive organs in separate individuals. Most animal species are dioecious, as are some plants, such as asparagus.
ecoactivist:
One who actively opposes the pollution, or destruction by other means, of the environment.
ecobabble:
Using the technical language of ecology to make the user seem to be ecologically aware.
ecocatastrophe, ecocatastrophy:
Major damage to the environment, especially when caused by human activity.
ecocidal:
Designed or tending to destroy the environment.
ecocide:
Destruction or damage of the environment; especially intentionally, e.g., by herbicides in war.
ecoclimate, ecoclimatology:
The climate as an ecological factor; the climate of a habitat.
ecodeme:
A sub-specific group capable of interbreeding within a population.
ecofact:
In archaeology, a natural object or substance that has not been technologically altered but that has cultural significance, such as a shell carried from the ocean to an inland settlement.
ecofreak:
A fanatical conservationist or environmentalist.
ecofugic, oikofugic:
In psychiatry, a reference to or swayed by the impulse to wander or travel.
ecogeographic, ecogeographacal, ecogeographer, ecogeographi-
cally:
A reference to geographical aspects of the ecology.
ecohazard:
Any activity or substance that may constitute a threat to a habitat or environment.
ecolaw:
Legislation dealing with the environment.
ecoline:
The rate of genetic change that occurs in an environment due to the merging of different varieties of a plant species.
ecological:
1. Of or relating to the environment or to the science of ecology.
2. Relating to the wise use or beneficial management of natural resources and of the natural environment.
ecologist:
One who specializes in biological sciences that deal with the relationship between organisms and their environment.
ecology, oecology:
1. The branch of the biological sciences that deals with the relationship between organisms and their environment, including their relationship with other organisms.
2. The science concerned with interactions between organisms and the environment on spatial scales ranging from parts of individuals to the biosphere as a whole.
Literally, ecology means the “study of houses”. The word was coined as ökologie by Ernst Haeckel, a German zoologist, in the 1870’s, based on the Greek word oikos. Although this means “house”, Haeckel was using it in the wider sense as “dwelling, habitat”. It was adopted into English soon after its coinage, originally as oecology which is similar to a Latin form.
- Physiological ecology, concerned with interactions between individual organisms and the environment.
- Population biology, the regulation of population growth and population size, and interactions among populations.
- Community ecology, characteristics of the collective properties of the organisms in an area.
- Ecosystem ecology, regulation of the flows of energy and material in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
ecomania, oikomania:
In psychology, a mental attitude whereby one is hostile and domineering toward one’s own family but who is submissive to those in an outside authority.
ecomorphology:
The study of the relationship between the ecological relations of an individual and its morphology.
econometrics:
The branch of economics concerned with the application of mathematical economics to economic data by the use of statistical methods.
economic, economical:
1. Pertaining to the management of a household, or to the ordering of private affairs.
2. Relating to the science of economics; relating to the development and regulation of the material resources of a community or nation.
3. The science relating to the production and distribution of material wealth; sometimes used as equivalent to political economy, but more frequently with reference to practical and specific applications.
economics:
The study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
economist:
1. One who manages a household; a housekeeper.
2. Someone who studies, works, or is an expert in the field of economics.
economy, oeconomy:
1. The production and consumption of goods and services of a community regarded as a whole.
2. The prudent managing of resources to avoid extravagant expenditure or waste.
3. A saving or attempt to reduce expenditure.
4. Originally, the management of a household.
5. Current usage is sometimes a reference to that which is intended to be less expensive or to give better value.
The basic notion contained in the word economy is “household management”. It comes from Greek oikonomia, by way of French or Latin, and means the “steward of a household”. This was a compound noun formed from oikos, “house” and nemein, “manage”. The original sense “household management” was extended into English. It broadened out in the 17th century to the management of a nation’s resources, while the use of the derivative economics for the theoretical study of the creation and consumption of wealth dates from the early 19th century.