etymology

Definition

The scientific study of the origin and evolution of a word's semantic meaning across time, including its constituent morphemes and phonemes.

Etymology

From Middle English ethymologie, from Old French ethimologie, from Latin etymologia, from Ancient Greek ἐτυμολογία (etumología), from ἔτυμον (étumon, “true sense”) and -λογία (-logía, “study or logic of”), from λόγος (lógos, “word; explanation”). Equivalent to etymon + -ology.

Example Sentences

• "Holonyms: historical linguistics < linguistics"
• "Although written the same, the words lead (the metal) and lead (the verb) have totally different etymologies."
• "The etymology of the term Japlish is disputed and contentiously so."

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