e·pis·te·mol·o·gy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-pst-ml-j)
n.
The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity.
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[Greek epistm, knowledge (from epistasthai, epist-, to understand : epi-, epi- + histasthai, middle voice of histanai, to place, determine; see st- in Indo-European Roots) + -logy.]
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e·piste·mo·logi·cal (-m-lj-kl) adj.
e·piste·mo·logi·cal·ly adv.
e·piste·molo·gist n.