1795 as "science of the past and present condition of the Earth's crust," from Modern Latin geologia "the study of the earth," from geo- "earth" + logia (see -logy). German Geologie is attested by 1785. In Medieval Latin, geologia (14c.) meant "study of earthly things," i.e. law, as distinguished from arts and sciences, which concern the works of God. Darwin used geologize as a verb.

There rolls the deep where grew the tree.

      O earth, what changes hast thou seen!

      There where the long street roars, hath been

The stillness of the central sea.

The hills are shadows, and they flow

      From form to form, and nothing stands;

      They melt like mist, the solid lands,

Like clouds they shape themselves and go. 

[from "In Memoriam," 1850]

"destruction of the cohesion of constituent parts," originally in geology, 1796, noun of action from disintegrate.