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Etymology: meaning, definitions and examples

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etymology

 

[ ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

study of the origin of words

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the historical development of their meanings. It explores how words have evolved over time, tracing their roots to different languages and cultures.

Synonyms

origin of words, word history.

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Word Description / Examples
etymology

Use this term in academic or scholarly discussions about the meaning and origin of words, their historical development, and linguistic roots.

  • Linguists often study the etymology of words to understand how languages evolve
  • The etymology of the word ‘salary’ is rooted in the Latin word for salt
origin of words

This phrase is more casual and can be used in everyday conversation to talk about where a word comes from and how it started being used.

  • Do you know the origin of the word ‘quiz’? The origin of words can be fascinating to learn about
word history

Ideal for storytelling or content creation, this phrase can be used to describe the evolution and changes in the meaning of a word over time.

  • The word history of ‘nice’ is quite interesting, as it originally meant 'foolish'
  • Exploring word history can reveal a lot about cultural changes

Examples of usage

  • The etymology of the word 'etymology' itself can be traced back to the Greek word 'etymologia'.
  • Etymology helps linguists understand how languages have influenced each other over centuries.

Translations

Translations of the word "etymology" in other languages:

🇵🇹 etimologia

🇮🇳 व्युत्पत्ति

🇩🇪 Etymologie

🇮🇩 etimologi

🇺🇦 етимологія

🇵🇱 etymologia

🇯🇵 語源 (ごげん)

🇫🇷 étymologie

🇪🇸 etimología

🇹🇷 etimoloji

🇰🇷 어원학 (어원)

🇸🇦 علم أصول الكلمات

🇨🇿 etymologie

🇸🇰 etymológia

🇨🇳 词源学 (cíyuán xué)

🇸🇮 etimologija

🇮🇸 orðsifjafræði

🇰🇿 сөз төркіні

🇬🇪 ეტიმოლოგია

🇦🇿 etimologiya

🇲🇽 etimología

Etymology

The term 'etymology' comes from the Greek word 'etymologia', which combines 'etymon' meaning 'true sense' and 'logia' meaning 'study of'. The study of etymology dates back to ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome, where scholars sought to understand the origins of words. Over time, etymology has evolved into a formal field of study, helping linguists and historians uncover the rich history behind language.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,441, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.