etymology

[ et-uh-mol-uh-jee ]

noun

, plural et·y·mol·o·gies.

1. the derivation of a word.

   Synonyms: origin, derivation

2. a chronological account of the birth and development of a particular word or element of a word, often delineating its spread from one language to another and its evolving changes in form and meaning.
3. the study of historical linguistic change, especially as manifested in individual words.

etymology

/ ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒɪ; ˌɛtɪməˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• etymological, adjective
• ˌetymoˈlogically, adverb
• ˌetyˈmologist, noun

Other Words From

• et·y·mo·log·i·cal [et-, uh, -m, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], 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 subetymologies
• unet·y·mo·logic adjective
• unet·y·mo·logi·cal adjective
• unet·y·mo·logi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of etymology¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin etymologia, from Greek etymología, equivalent to etymológ(os) “studying the true meanings and values of words” ( étymo(s) “true” + lógos “word, reason”) + -ia noun suffix; etymon, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of etymology¹

C14: via Latin from Greek etumologia; see etymon , -logy

Example Sentences

If you sign up, you’ll get a daily notification on your phone to check out a term you may not have heard before and fun facts about the etymology of each.

From Search Engine Land

Builder is a word with Old English roots in the ideas “to be, exist, grow,” according to the Online Dictionary of Etymology.

From TechCrunch

I moved to Washington in 1988 with the folk etymology of lobbyist firmly in mind.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast reached out to Eschliman to ask about the definition and etymology of the term "Gaystapo."

From The Daily Beast

Its origins and etymology are veiled in mystery: cha is Chinese for “tea,” but debates rage over those first two syllables.

From The Daily Beast

Since etymology is epicentral to politics, the new titles that the Republican and Democratic parties choose must be right.

From The Daily Beast

He understands this to mean "sheltered, secure from wind;" and he asks to what etymology this sense can be attributed.

From Project Gutenberg

I would have made the Saracens descend from Sarah; the etymology would then have been neater.

From Project Gutenberg

No amount of brainwork has conjured any sense from Iffley, and the etymology has been placed on the shelf as “unknown”.

From Project Gutenberg

In a moment of noteworthy frankness Prof. Skeat has admitted that “Scientific etymology is usually clumsy and frequently wrong”.

From Project Gutenberg

The official etymology of June is “probably from root of Latin juvenis, junior,” but where is the sense in this?

From Project Gutenberg