zoonomy, n.

zoonomy
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoonomy_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoonomynoun

## Earlier version

- zoonomy in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zoonomy mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zoonomy. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zoonomy has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

life sciences (1800s) physiology (1800s) phrenology (1810s)

### How common is the noun zoonomy?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1810 | 0.005
1820 | 0.0049
1830 | 0.0048
1840 | 0.0043
1850 | 0.0037
1860 | 0.0032
1870 | 0.0023
1880 | 0.0018
1890 | 0.0012
1900 | 0.0006
1910 | 0.0004
1920 | 0.0003
1930 | 0.0002
1940 | 0.0002
1950 | 0.0003
1960 | 0.0003
1970 | 0.0003
1980 | 0.0003
1990 | 0.0003
2000 | 0.0003
2010 | 0.0003

### How is the noun zoonomy pronounced?

#### British English

/zəʊˈɒnəmi/
zoh-ON-uh-mee
/zuːˈɒnəmi/
zoo-ON-uh-mee

#### U.S. English

/zuˈɑnəmi/
zoo-AH-nuh-mee
/zoʊˈɑnəmi/
zoh-AH-nuh-mee

### Where does the noun zoonomy come from?

Earliest known use

1800s

The earliest known use of the noun zoonomy is in the 1800s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoonomy is from 1800, in Medical & Physical Journal.

zoonomy is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑nomy comb. form.

### Nearby entries

1. zoonate, n. 1798–1857
2. zoonerythrin, n. 1882–
3. zoonic, adj. 1798–1853
4. zooning, n. 1885–
5. Zoonist, adj. 1890–97
6. zoonite, n. 1838–
7. zoonitic, adj. 1860–91
8. zoonomic, adj. 1836–
9. zoonomical, adj. 1800–
10. zoonomist, n. 1800–99
11. zoonomy, n.1800–
12. zoonosis, n. 1873–
13. zoonosologist, n. 1860–
14. zoonosology, n. 1845–
15. zoonotic, adj. 1877–
16. zoon politikon, n. 1895–
17. zoonters, int. a1763–
18. zoo-organic, adj. 1821–90
19. zoopathologist, n. 1898–
20. zoopathology, n. 1841–
21. zoophagan, n. & adj. 1835–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: zoo- comb. form, ‑nomy comb. form.
< zoo- comb. form + ‑nomy comb. form.

In sense 1 after German Zoonomie (1795) and its model post-classical Latin zoonomia (E. Darwin Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life (1794)…
< zoo- comb. form + ‑nomy comb. form.

In sense 1 after German Zoonomie (1795) and its model post-classical Latin zoonomia (E. Darwin Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life (1794)).

### Notes

Compare French zoonomie (1800 or earlier).

## Meaning & use

Now historical and rare.

1. 1.
   1800–
   The branch of science concerned with the laws or principles of animal life, variously interpreted as covering the internal anatomy, physiology, or growth and development of animals (sometimes contrasted with purely descriptive zoology); animal physiology.
   1. 1800

      > The principal objects of Zoonomy, considered as a physical science, are consequently, the rules and laws of animal nature.

      Medical & Physical Journal vol. 3 281
   2. 1811

      > Whatever relates to the origin of species..belongs to problems in zoonomy.

      J. Black, translation of A. von Humboldt, Political Essay New Spain vol. III. 66
   3. 1841

      > Under the head of Zoonomy..we would treat of the general structure and functions of animals.

      R. Park, Pantology xi. i. 377
   4. 1869

      > One of the many works which are appearing nowadays designed to reconcile the teachings of zoonomy and geology with the Bible.

      New York Herald 6 December 5/6
   5. 1901

      > It is really a great practical school of zoönomy and agriculture.

      W. Walton, Paris Known & Unknown 300/2
   6. 1957

      > Zoonomy, the laws dealing with animal life.

      I. F. Henderson & W. D. Henderson, Dictionary Sci. Terms (ed. 6) 529/2
   7. 1977

      > If geology could not be reduced to chemistry, far less could zoonomy submit to such reduction.

      Stud. in Romanticism vol. 16 370
   life sciences physiology historical
   1. physiology 1615–
      The branch of science that deals with the normal functioning of living organisms and their systems and organs. Also: the functional processes of…
   2. zoonomy 1800–
      The branch of science concerned with the laws or principles of animal life, variously interpreted as covering the internal anatomy, physiology, or…
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1815–
   The theory that the mental powers or characteristics of an individual consist of separate faculties, each of which has its location in an organ found in a definite region of the surface of the brain; = phrenology n. 2.
   1. 1815

      > Sketch of the New Anatomy and Physiology of the Brain and Nervous System of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim, considered as comprehending a complete system of Zoonomy.

      T. Forster (title)
   2. 1887

      > The pursuits of palmistry, chiromancy, craniology, zoonomy, and esoteric physiology are never likely to lack adherents and disciples.

      Standard 7 January 5/3
   3. 1914

      > The system..which he called ‘Zoonomy’ is rich in suggestion, and..may contain more truths than is generally supposed.

      J. T. McIntyre, Ashton-Kirk Special Detective vi. 96
   4. 1974

      > Known also as ‘cranioscopy’, ‘craniology’, and ‘zoonomy’, phrenology was the creation of a Viennese physician, Franz Joseph Gall.

      Journal Modern History vol. 46 87
   phrenology historical
   1. cranioscopy 1804–
      Examination of the size and configuration of the skull; formerly applied to what is now commonly called phrenology, n.
   2. craniology 1806–43
      The study of the configuration of the skull as indicating the comparative development of the ‘organs’ or faculties; now known as phrenology, n.
   3. craniognosy 1810–
      = craniognomy, n.
   4. craniognomy 1813–
      ‘The science of the form and characteristics of the skull’(New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon).
   5. organology 1814–
      The theory that the human brain is composed of numerous superficial organs that are responsible for propensities, intellect, character, etc…
   6. phrenology 1815–
      The theory that the mental powers or characteristics of an individual consist of separate faculties, each of which has its location in an organ…
   7. zoonomy 1815–
      The theory that the mental powers or characteristics of an individual consist of separate faculties, each of which has its location in an organ…
   8. bumpology 1822–
      The pseudoscientific study of bumps on the skull; phrenology.
   9. turnipology 1824–26
      Phrenology.
   10. functionalism 1834
       A term for: phrenology (phrenology, n. 2). Obsolete. rare.
   11. phrenopathy 1843–45
       L. R. Sunderland's name for: the application of pathetism (hypnotism) to phrenology. Obsolete.
   12. organoscopy 1864–92
       Examination of organs of the body; spec. cranioscopy or phrenology.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zəʊˈɒnəmi/
zoh-ON-uh-mee
/zuːˈɒnəmi/
zoo-ON-uh-mee

### U.S. English

/zuˈɑnəmi/
zoo-AH-nuh-mee
/zoʊˈɑnəmi/
zoh-AH-nuh-mee

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

See zoo- comb. form and ‑nomy comb. form.

## Frequency

zoonomy typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zoonomy is in frequency band 1, which contains words occurring fewer than 0.001 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zoonomy, n., 1810–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1810 | 0.005
1820 | 0.0049
1830 | 0.0048
1840 | 0.0043
1850 | 0.0037
1860 | 0.0032
1870 | 0.0023
1880 | 0.0018
1890 | 0.0012
1900 | 0.0006
1910 | 0.0004
1920 | 0.0003
1930 | 0.0002
1940 | 0.0002
1950 | 0.0003
1960 | 0.0003
1970 | 0.0003
1980 | 0.0003
1990 | 0.0003
2000 | 0.0003
2010 | 0.0003

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zoonomical, adj. 1800–
   Of or relating to zoonomy; = zoonomic, adj.

1. zoonomist, n. 1800–99
   An expert in zoonomy; a person who studies zoonomy.

1. zoonomic, adj. 1836–
   Of or relating to zoonomy; = zoonomical, adj.

zoonomy, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoonomy, n. was last modified in July 2023.