hermeneutics

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

hermeneutics
    n 1: the branch of theology that deals with principles of
         exegesis

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Hermeneutics \Her`me*neu"tics\, n. [Gr. ? (sc. ?).]
   The science of interpretation and explanation; exegesis;
   esp., that branch of theology which defines the laws whereby
   the meaning of the Scriptures is to be ascertained.
   --Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
   [1913 Webster]