Definition of etymology

In classical times, with reference to meanings; later, to histories.

This is a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English. Etymologies are not definitions; they're explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded or 2, years ago. The dates beside a word indicate the earliest year for which there is a surviving written record of that word in English, unless otherwise indicated. This should be taken as approximate, especially before about , since a word may have been used in conversation for hundreds of years before it turns up in a manuscript that has had the good fortune to survive the centuries. Since this dictionary went up, it has benefited from the suggestions of dozens of people I have never met, from around the world.

Definition of etymology

Add to word list Add to word list. At university she developed an interest in etymology. A list of selected words and their etymologies is printed at the back of the book. Related words etymological adjective. English the origin and history of a word or words, or the study of word origins. Examples of etymology. Tales of swollen feet, burial ceremonies, and sea plants are mixed in with reports of military traditions, place name etymologies and accounts of hospitality rituals. From the Cambridge English Corpus. The section ends with a brief note on etymology , including one or two pointers to etymological abbreviations and conventions found in dictionaries. Its discussion of etymology is balanced and quite careful. People are very good at folk etymologies that puts some pressure on getting the dictionary out before more of them become too entrenched in writing.

The Daily Beast reached out to Eschliman to ask about the definition and etymology of the term "Gaystapo.

For languages with a long written history , etymologists make use of texts, and texts about the language, to gather knowledge about how words were used during earlier periods, how they developed in meaning and form , or when and how they entered the language. Etymologists also apply the methods of comparative linguistics to reconstruct information about forms that are too old for any direct information to be available. By analyzing related languages with a technique known as the comparative method , linguists can make inferences about their shared parent language and its vocabulary. In this way, word roots in many European languages, for example, can be traced all the way back to the origin of the Indo-European language family. Even though etymological research originated from the philological tradition, much current etymological research is done on language families where little or no early documentation is available, such as Uralic and Austronesian. The term etymon refers to the predicate i.

By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. We'll see you in your inbox soon. From Wiktionary. The etymology may be wrong, but this is the popular sense of the word. This etymology , however, is not much in favour now. World Wide Words An excellent site giving the etymology of abracadabra always a favorite of mine to zorbing. Find similar words to etymology using the buttons below.

Definition of etymology

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All rights reserved. The Daily Beast reached out to Eschliman to ask about the definition and etymology of the term "Gaystapo. Browse alphabetically etymology. English Dictionary. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Portuguese English to Portuguese. Examples of 'etymology' in a sentence etymology. Here are a few phrases you can use to express sympathy and condolences. The origin of modern historical linguistics is often traced to Sir William Jones , a Welsh philologist living in India , who in observed the genetic relationship between Sanskrit , Greek and Latin. Latin etymologia "etymology," from Greek etymon "true meaning of a word" and Greek -logia "study, science," from etymos "true" and logos "word, reason". German images. The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. The sacrifices performed on the bridge were amongst the most sacred and ancient, and the keeping and repairing of the bridge attached, like any other public sacred office, to the priesthood. Choose a dictionary.

English Dictionary.

The term, in all probability an acronym, has an elusive etymology. Word Lists. Semantic change may also occur. French grammar. Need even more definitions? Japanese English to Japanese. Hindi to English. Collins Word of the Day. Archaic England Harold Bayley. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. Read More. English—Spanish Spanish—English. View More Submit.