etymology
UK: ˌetɪˈmɒlədʒi | US: ˌetɪˈmɑːlədʒi
n. the study of the origin and historical development of words
n. the origin and evolution of a particular word
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- etymo<true meaning>: From Greek etymon ("true sense of a word, original meaning").
- logy<study of>: From Greek -logia ("branch of knowledge, discourse").
The word "etymology" traces back to Greek etymologia, combining etymon ("true meaning") and -logia ("study"). It reflects the pursuit of uncovering a word's "true" or earliest form, often revealing surprising connections across languages. For example, the Greek etymon itself derives from etymos ("real, true"), emphasizing the field's focus on linguistic authenticity. Over time, the term evolved into Latin etymologia before entering English in the 14th century, retaining its core mission: tracing words back to their roots.
The etymology of "quarantine" reveals its origin in the 40-day isolation period for ships (quaranta giorni in Italian).
She studied etymology to understand how languages influence each other.
"Salary" has an amusing etymology—it comes from Latin salarium, meaning "money given to soldiers to buy salt."
Etymology often bridges gaps between seemingly unrelated words.
His fascination with etymology led him to research the history of slang terms.