Etymology

Etymology = the study of the origins of words

• the study of the history of the form of words, and the origin and evolution of their semantic meaning across time

• the word "etymology" comes from:
  • Greek etymologia for "study of the true sense of a word"
    • etymos (true sense, actual) +-logia (study of)
• viewing the etymology of a word helps to understand the use, meanings, and implications of words
  • especially to appreciate distinctions between synonyms
• we recommend using https://www.etymonline.com/

See Language and etymology