etymology

noun

et·​y·​mol·​o·​gy ˌe-tə-ˈmä-lə-jē How to pronounce etymology (audio)
plural etymologies
1
: the history of a linguistic form (such as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a common ancestral form in an ancestral language
2
: a branch of linguistics concerned with etymologies
etymological adjective
etymologically adverb

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Commonly Confused: Etymology and Entomology

The etymology of etymology itself is relatively straightforward. Etymon means "origin of a word" in Latin, and comes from the Greek word etymon, meaning "literal meaning of a word according to its origin." Greek etymon in turn comes from etymos, which means "true." Be careful not to confuse etymology with the similar-sounding entomology. Entomon means "insect" in Greek, and entomology is the study of bugs.

Examples of etymology in a Sentence

Visible just beneath the entries are tantalizing glimpses of the lexicographer's craft: scouring periodicals for fresh coinages, poring over competing dictionaries in search of elusive etymologies and hounding writers and scholars in the service of … "ear candy" or plain old "duh." Margalit Fox, New York Times Book Review, 18 June 1995
Professionals have always tried to seal the borders of their trade and to snipe at any outsider with a pretense to amateur enthusiasm (although amateurs who truly love their subject, as the etymology of their status proclaims, often acquire far more expertise than the average time-clock-punching breadwinner). Stephen Jay Gould, Natural History, February 1991
True etymology, if there is such a thing, seeks to displace our attention back in time, to roots, whereas the "popular" variety tries to update words, to familiarize them where the so-called science estranges them. Walter Redfern, Puns, 1984
Several different etymologies have been proposed.
Recent Examples on the Web Let the etymology simmer as the word continues to weave through various scientific, medical, and dietary contexts, becoming a versatile ingredient in the English language. Erik Kain, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 She’s obsessed with etymology, matcha, and late ’90s-early ’00s romcoms. Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 23 July 2024 On a more scholarly level, Mordecai’s etymology has ancient Babylonese origins of auspicious meaning. Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 18 July 2024 Whatever your preferred etymology, biscuits finds its way in all sorts of Australian conversations, and now thanks to Bandit possibly the vocabulary of many family households, as well. Hannah Silverman, Parents, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for etymology 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'etymology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ethimologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin etymologia, from Greek, from etymon + -logia -logy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of etymology was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near etymology

Cite this Entry

“Etymology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etymology. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

etymology

noun
et·​y·​mol·​o·​gy ˌet-ə-ˈmäl-ə-jē How to pronounce etymology (audio)
plural etymologies
: the history of a word shown by tracing it or its parts back to the earliest known forms and meanings both in its own language and any other language from which it or its parts may have been taken
etymological adjective
etymologically adverb
etymologist
-ˈmäl-ə-jəst
noun
Etymology

Latin etymologia "etymology," from Greek etymon "true meaning of a word" and Greek -logia "study, science," from etymos "true" and logos "word, reason"

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