Suffix it to Say... Trivia Quiz

Answer: celerity

See how I used an 'ity' to define another 'ity'? Celerity is from the Latin (what isn't?) and means swiftness of motion or action, i.e., alacrity (ha!). It has nothing to do with vegetables but, rather, is closely associated with acceleration. Both words use the Latin root 'celer' meaning swift.

Parity is from the Latin "paritas", i.e., equality (oops, I did it again).
Asperity is harshness of tone or manner, abrasiveness.
Pertinacity means stubbornness.

Answer: the branch of science dealing with the production of crops

If you got it wrong, no need for an apology! The terms agrology and agronomy are often interchangeable except in Canada, where agrology is the broader term for a science-based regulated profession, while agronomy is defined as above, i.e., the specific science dealing with crop production.

The study of grasses is agrostology; the study of cells is called cariology; the branch of pathology that studies disease on a cellular level is named cytopathology.

Answer: dogmatism

Dogmatism has nothing to do with canines but, rather, comes from the Greek 'dogma' which represents a belief or tenet. Dogmatism emphasizes rigid adherence to doctrine, as opposed to rational inquiry.

Capitalism is a system based on individual economic rights or, as economist Adam Smith called, it a system of 'laissez-faire' or freedom.
Socialism is an economic theory which advocates collective or governmental ownership.
Communism is a system where all means of production are owned in common.

Answer: insight or shrewdness

Perspicacity is keenness of mental perception and understanding. A perspicacious person would be sharp-witted, intelligent and wise.

Scarcity is paucity (as in pauper) which is the presence of some item like food or money in insufficient quantities.
Excessive talkativeness, especially on trivial matters, also known as 'verbal diarrhea', would be synonymous with garrulity.
Untruthfulness (if you've ever seen the movie "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof") is mendacity.

Answer: melissopalynology

If you happen to be prone to sesquipedalian words, then melissopalynology is the 'ology' for you. It simply means the study of honey which, unless you are an apiarist or apiculturist, doesn't come up too often. If you got this one correct, you might be considered perspicacious.

Scelerology is the study of the outer coat of the eyeball - talk about specificity!
Geochronology is the study of the age of the Earth (as in chronological).
Kymatology is the study of waves or wave motions.

Answer: existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophy which emphasizes the 'existence' of the individual as a free agent with self-determination. This philosophy was championed by Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980) in works like "No Exit" and "Being and Nothingness", and Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) who wrote about ideas like 'the Absurd', angst and authenticity.

Empiricism states that all knowledge is derived from experience.
Exismentialism is the somewhat depressing philosophy that humans have no essential purpose, certainly not to be confused with existentialism.
Ecclesiasticism is excessive attention to church practices.

Answer: ichthyology

Ichthyology is a branch of biology which studies fish, including bony fish (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) and jawless fish (Agnatha), but not Hootie and the Blowfish (sorry, I couldn't help it).

Immunology, much like it sounds, is the study of the immune systems in all organisms.
Ichnology involves the examination of fossil footprints (Hugh Hefner?).
Iamatology deals with medical remedies or therapeutics.

Answer: comity

I find that many people today lack comity, civility and consideration of their fellow man and woman; perhaps there is just too much of an emphasis on material things and, as the Rev. Tim Radkey once said, "He who dies with the most toys...still dies!" On a broader scale, comity can also mean an association of nations for their mutual benefit, e.g., the Allies vs the Axis Powers in World War II.

Ingenuity is cleverness and originality.
Consanguinity (as in sanguine/blood) means descended from the same ancestor as someone else. Nonentity - forget it, it's unimportant!

Answer: henotheism

Well, you know monotheism is a belief of one God, and polytheism is a belief in many gods. Henotheism sort of splits the difference, i.e, they mainly worship a particular god, without denying the existence of others (a reverse agnostic?).
Hedonism is defined as sexual self-indulgence (anyone remember the 1960s?).
Hylozoism is a philosophical view that matter is, in some sense, alive.
Holism, just like it sounds, is a belief that parts of the whole are in "intimate interconnection". Ever hear the one about a hedonist, a hylozoist and a holist who walk into a bar? Make your own punch line!

Answer: wild mammals

Last, but not least, therology deals with the study of mammals. It is also known as mammalogy. The term therology is seldom used and does not even appear in every dictionary.

Did you pick religion as your answer? That would be theology.
The study of nutrition (much in the news these days) is threpsology.
And I wonder how many meteorologists are aware that the science of rainfall is called hyetology.

Bye...ology!