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Etymological: meaning, definitions and examples

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etymological

 

[ ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

language study

Etymological refers to the study of the origins and historical development of words. It involves analyzing the roots of words, their transformations, and how their meanings have evolved over time.

Synonyms

derivational, historical, linguistic

Examples of usage

  • The etymological roots of 'democracy' trace back to the Greek 'demos' and 'kratos'.
  • Linguists often explore etymological connections between similar words in different languages.
  • Understanding etymological aspects can enhance your vocabulary.

Translations

Translations of the word "etymological" in other languages:

🇵🇹 etimológico

🇮🇳 शब्दविज्ञानी (shabdavigyani)

🇩🇪 etymologisch

🇮🇩 etimologis

🇺🇦 етимологічний

🇵🇱 etymologiczny

🇯🇵 語源の (gogen no)

🇫🇷 étymologique

🇪🇸 etimológico

🇹🇷 etimolojik

🇰🇷 어원학의 (eowonhak-ui)

🇸🇦 أصول الكلمات (أصول الكلمات)

🇨🇿 etymologický

🇸🇰 etymologický

🇨🇳 词源的 (cíyuán de)

🇸🇮 etimološki

🇮🇸 orðsifjafræðilegur

🇰🇿 этимологиялық (etimologiyalyq)

🇬🇪 ეტიმოლოგიური (et'imoġiuri)

🇦🇿 etimoloji

🇲🇽 etimológico

Word origin

The term 'etymology' derives from the Greek word 'etymon', meaning 'true sense', and 'logia', meaning 'study of'. It refers to the study of the true origins of words. The concept has been around since ancient times. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle discussed the origins and meanings of words, although systematic approaches to etymology didn’t develop until the 19th century with the rise of philology. The field grew as scholars began to systematically compare languages and analyze historical texts, leading to the establishment of etymology as a branch of linguistics. Over centuries, etymological studies have not only contributed to the understanding of language development but also reflected cultural shifts, social changes, and historical context across different societies.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,088, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.