philologist

[ fi-lol-uh-jist ]

noun

1. a person who specializes in philology, the study of literary texts and written records:

   An interdisciplinary collaboration between philologists, chemists, and computer scientists is yielding new insights about these medieval manuscripts, all written in different languages or scripts, and most in poor condition.

2. (especially in older use) a person who specializes in linguistics, especially historical and comparative linguistics:

   The origin of modern historical linguistics is often traced back to Sir William Jones, the English philologist who, in 1782, observed the genetic relationship between Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of philologist¹

philolog(y) + -ist

Example Sentences

John Pickering, an eminent American philologist, died at Boston, aged 60.

From Project Gutenberg

And why should not a philologist be able to answer questions acutely?

From Project Gutenberg

The professor, a distinguished philologist, was worried, and he looked it.

From Project Gutenberg

A great but careless linguist, Borrow was assuredly no philologist.

From Project Gutenberg

These are of so remarkable a type as to have puzzled every philologist and paleographer who has attempted their decipherment.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• linguist
• wordsmith