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philology

[ fi-lol-uh-jee ]
/ fɪˈlɒl ə dʒi /

noun

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

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Origin of philology

1350–1400; Middle English philologie<Latin philologia<Greek philología love of learning and literature, equivalent to philólog(os) literary, studious, argumentative + -ia-y3. See philo-, -logy

OTHER WORDS FROM philology

Words nearby philology

philography, philogyny, Philo Judaeus, philol., philologian, philology, philomel, Philomela, Philomelides, philopena, philophobia
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for philology

British Dictionary definitions for philology

philology
/ (fɪˈlɒlədʒɪ) /

noun

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

Derived forms of philology

philological (ˌfɪləˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectivephilologically, adverbphilologist or rare philologer, noun

Word Origin for philology

C17: from Latin philologia, from Greek: love of language
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012