Etimology
/ˌɛt.ɪˈmɒl.ə.dʒi/noun
The study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed throughout history.
Did you know?Etymology, from the Greek 'etymon', meaning 'true sense', reflects how words can reveal deeper truths about language and culture.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔτυμον (etymon)
“True meaning, the real sense of a word.”
Latin
Latin
etymologia
“The study of word origins.”
Old French
Old French
etimologie
“The science of word derivation.”
Middle English
Middle English
etimologie
“The branch of linguistics concerning word origins.”
Modern English
English
etymology
“The study of the history of words and their meanings.”
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