teleologist

tel·e·ol·o·gy

 (tĕl′ē-ŏl′ə-jē, tē′lē-)

n. pl. tel·e·ol·o·gies

1. The philosophical interpretation of natural phenomena as exhibiting purpose or design.

2. The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena.

3. Belief in or the perception of purposeful development toward an end, as in history.

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[Greek teleios, teleos, perfect, complete (from telos, end, result; see k^wel- in Indo-European roots) + -logy.]

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tel′e·o·log′i·cal (-ə-lŏj′ĭ-kəl), tel′e·o·log′ic (-ĭk) adj.

tel′e·o·log′i·cal·ly adv.

tel′e·ol′o·gist n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

teleologist - advocate of teleology advocate, advocator, exponent, proponent - a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.