Ŏr/y-e-tŏg/no-sy, n.

n. [Fr. oryctognosie, from Gr. ὀρυκτός, dug, fossil, from ὀρύσσειν, to dig, dig up, and γνῶσις, knowledge, from γνῶναι, γιγνώσκειν, to know.] The science which has for its object the description and classification of minerals, according to well-ascertained characters, and under appropriate denominations; mineralogy. [Obs.]