tel·e·ol·o·gy 
(tĕl′ē-ŏlə-jē, tē′lē-)
(tĕl′ē-ŏlə-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.
[Greek teleios, teleos, perfect, complete (from telos, end, result; see kwel-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + -LOGY.]
tel′e·o·logi·cal (-ə-lŏjĭ-kəl), tel′e·o·logic (-ĭk) adj.
tel′e·o·logi·cal·ly adv.
tel′e·olo·gist n.