eschatology
|es-cha-tol-o-gy|
🇺🇸
/ˌɛskəˈtɑːlədʒi/
🇬🇧
/ˌɛskəˈtɒlədʒi/
study of last things
Etymology
'eschatology' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'eschatos' and the combining form '-logia', where 'eschatos' meant 'last' and '-logia' meant 'study' or 'discourse'.
'eschatology' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'eschatologia' (ecclesiastical Latin) and was adopted into English from that Latin form.
Initially it meant 'the study or discourse about last things,' and over time the core meaning has remained but broadened to include secular and philosophical discussions of ultimate outcomes.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the branch of theology concerned with death, the final judgment, the afterlife, and the ultimate destiny of individuals and the world.
Medieval eschatology often focused on the Day of Judgment and beliefs about heaven and hell.
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Noun 2
a system or set of beliefs and doctrines about the end of the world or the final destiny of humanity (often within a particular religious movement).
The sect's eschatology predicted an imminent apocalypse and a new age to follow.
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Noun 3
in philosophy or cultural studies, the study or speculation about ultimate outcomes or final events for individuals, societies, or the universe (including secular or nonreligious accounts).
Some contemporary thinkers discuss secular eschatology in terms of technological singularity or long-term futures.
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Last updated: 2025/12/09 08:51