et‧y‧mol‧o‧gy /ˌetəˈmɒlədʒi, ˌetɪˈmɒlədʒi $ -ˈmɑː-/ noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: etymologia, from Greek, from etymon 'original meaning', from etymos 'true']

1. [uncountable] the study of the origins, history, and changing meanings of words

2. [countable] a description of the history of a word
—etymologist noun [countable]
—etymological /ˌetəməˈlɒdʒɪkəl◂, ˌetɪməˈlɒdʒɪkəl◂ $ -ˈlɑː-/ adjective
—etymologically /-kli/ adverb

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲