etymology
1 of 1noun/ˌɛtəˈmɑlədʒi/
Forms:etymologies
1
the study of the origins and historical developments of words and their meanings
Learn more on WikipediaEtymology is the study of the origin and history of words. It looks at where a word came from, how its form and meaning have changed over time, and what languages it has passed through. For example, the word "ballet" comes from the French language, which borrowed it from Italian, and it originally came from a Latin word meaning "to dance". Etymology helps us understand the roots and evolution of words in different languages.
- Linguists trace the etymology of "vocabulary" back to Latin "vocabulum," meaning word.
- Studying etymology helps understand how languages evolve and borrow from each other.
- The dictionary includes information on the etymology of words to provide linguistic context.
- Etymology sheds light on cultural exchanges and historical influences on language.
- The etymology of "amplify" reveals its roots in Latin "amplus," meaning large or spacious.
2
the history and origins of all the meanings a word or morpheme has carried