Etymology

[,etɪ'mɒlədʒɪ] or [,ɛtɪ'mɑlədʒi]

Definition

(noun.) the study of the sources and development of words.

(noun.) a history of a word.

Edited by Horace--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) That branch of philological science which treats of the history of words, tracing out their origin, primitive significance, and changes of form and meaning.

(n.) That part of grammar which relates to the changes in the form of the words in a language; inflection.

Editor: Oswald

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Science of etymons.[2]. Derivation.[3]. (Gram.) Inflection (of the parts of speech).

Checked by Ernest

Definition

n. the investigation of the derivation and original signification of words: the science that treats of the origin and history of words: the part of grammar relating to inflection.—adjs. Etym′ic; Etymolog′ical.—adv. Etymolog′ically.—ns. Etymolog′icon -cum an etymological dictionary.—v.t. Etymol′ogise to give or search into the etymology of a word.—ns. Etymol′ogist one skilled in or who writes on etymology; Et′ymon the origin of a word: an original root: the genuine or literal sense of a word.

Inputed by Bobbie