Ma'anar ƙamus na "aetiologist" ƙwararren likita ne ko mai bincike wanda ya ƙware a cikin binciken musabbabi ko asalin cututtuka ko yanayin likita. Haka kuma kalmar tana iya komawa ga masanin kimiya ko mai bincike wanda ya binciki musabbabi ko tushen al'amura gaba daya, kamar a fannin ilmin halitta, ilimin zamantakewa, ko ilimin halin dan Adam.
