philology

[ fi-lol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the study of literary texts and of written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.
2. (especially in older use) linguistics, especially historical and comparative linguistics.
3. Obsolete. the love of learning and literature.

philology

/ fɪˈlɒlədʒɪ; ˌfɪləˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. comparative and historical linguistics
2. the scientific analysis of written records and literary texts
3. (no longer in scholarly use) the study of literature in general

Derived Forms

• phiˈlologist, noun
• philological, adjective
• ˌphiloˈlogically, adverb

Other Words From

• phil·o·log·i·cal [fil-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], phil·o·log·ic adjective
• phil·o·log·i·cal·ly adverb
• phi·lol·o·gist phi·lol·o·ger noun
• non·phil·o·log·ic adjective
• non·phil·o·log·i·cal adjective
• un·phil·o·log·ic adjective
• un·phil·o·log·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of philology¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English philologie, Latin philologia, from Greek philología “love of learning and literature,” equivalent to philólog(os) “literary, studious, argumentative” + -ia -y ³; philo-, -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of philology¹

C17: from Latin philologia, from Greek: love of language

Example Sentences

Jews and Arabs reach back, via philology as well as place of origin, to the same gene pool.

From The Daily Beast

Under this, the only scientific conception of Philology, the study of Antiquities takes at once a higher place.

From Project Gutenberg

Whitney puts it thus: Philology deals with human speech and with all that speech discloses as to the nature and history of man.

From Project Gutenberg

But Classical Philology is much more than the science of understanding and interpreting the classical languages.

From Project Gutenberg

Celtic ethnology and philology (see Celt) are still in the "age of discussion."

From Project Gutenberg

It is not probable that the study of philology will ever attract the same attention here that it does abroad.

From Project Gutenberg