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etymology

 - 4 dictionary results

et·y·mol·o·gy

   [et-uh-mol-uh-jee]
–noun,plural-gies.
1.
the derivation of a word.
2.
an account of the history of a particular word or element of a word.
3.
the study of historical linguistic change, esp. as manifested in individual words.
Use etymology in a Sentence
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L etymologia < Gk etymología, equiv. to etymológ(os) studying the true meanings and values of words (étymo(s) true (see etymon) + lógos word, reason) + -ia -y3

—Related forms
et·y·mo·log·i·cal  [et-uh-muh-loj-i-kuhl] , et·y·mo·log·ic, adjective
et·y·mo·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
et·y·mol·o·gist, noun
pseu·do·et·y·mo·log·i·cal, adjective
pseu·do·et·y·mo·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
sub·et·y·mol·o·gy, noun,plural-gies.
un·et·y·mo·log·ic, adjective
un·et·y·mo·log·i·cal, adjective
un·et·y·mo·log·i·cal·ly, adverb

—Can be confused: entomology, etymology.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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World English Dictionary
etymology (ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n , pl -gies
1.  the study of the sources and development of words and morphemes
2.  an account of the source and development of a word or morpheme
 
[C14: via Latin from Greek etumologia; see etymon, -logy]
 
etymological
 
—adj
 
etymo'logically
 
—adv
 
ety'mologist
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin & History

etymology
late 14c., from Gk. etymologia, from etymon "true sense" (neut. of etymos "true," related to eteos "true") + logos "word." In classical times, of meanings; later, of histories. Latinized by Cicero as veriloquium. Related: Etymological; etymologically; etymologist.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

etymology

the history of a word or word element, including its origins and derivation. Although the etymologizing of proper names appears in the Old Testament and Plato dealt with etymology in his dialogue Cratylus, lack of knowledge of other languages and of the historical developments that languages undergo prevented ancient writers from arriving at the proper etymologies of words

Learn more about etymology with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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