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
    • more simply:
      • "word origins"
      • and how word meanings change over time

Etymology definition

  • the study of the origin of words and their forms, and the history and evolution of their semantic meaning across time
  • modern English words have various origins, including
    • Celtic, Old English (Anglo-Saxon), Middle English (post-Norman Invasion)
    • Latin & Greek
    • Other modern languages as words are adopted into use in English, including from
      • Native American, Hindi (or other Indian dialects), Yiddish (Hebrew origin), Arabic, Chinese

Etymology of "etymology"

  • 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

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