[f. Gr. τέρας, τερατ- a marvel, prodigy, monster + -LOGY. So F. tératologie (Littré).]
1. A discourse or narrative concerning prodigies; a marvelous tale, or collection of such tales.
1678. Phillips (ed. 4), Teratology, a discourse of prodigies and wonders.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., Teratology … is when bold Writers, fond of the sublime, intermix something great and prodigious in every Thing they write, whether there be Foundation for it in Reason or not, and this is what is call’d Bombast.
[Hence 1755. Johnson, Teratology, bombast, affectation of false sublimity.]
1856. C. J. Ellicott, in Cambr. Ess., 158. The aimless fables and teratologies of Thomas the Israelite or the Gospels of the Infancy.
1884. Blackmore, Tommy Upm., II. 104. Big enough to exhaust even his teratology.
2. Biol. The study of monstrosities or abnormal formations in animals or plants.
1842. in Brande, Dict. Sc., etc.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Teratology … name given by M. J. Geoffroy de St. Hilaire, to the study or consideration of monsters, or anomalies of organization.
1869. M. T. Masters (title), Vegetable Teratology.
1904. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 17 Dec., 1643. Almost the whole or embryonic pathology is … included within the limits of teratology.
