physiography

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: Gr. φύσις nature + -graphy: cf. F. physiographie.

1. The science which treats of the earth's exterior physical features, climate, life, etc., and of the physical movements or changes on the earth's surface, as the currents of the atmosphere and ocean, the secular variations in heat, moisture, magnetism, etc.; physical geography.

2. The descriptive part of a natural science as distinguished from the explanatory or theoretic part; as, mineral physiography.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: 1913 supplement