Meaning & use
etymology
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Meanings
noununcountable
The study of where words come from and how their forms and meanings have changed over time.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural when talking about the subject in general.
Patterns
- the etymology of something
- a course in etymology
She studied etymology at university and now writes about the history of English words.
The etymology of many everyday words is surprisingly complicated.
His interest in etymology began when he wondered why 'breakfast' literally means 'break fast'.
nouncountable
The origin and historical development of a particular word.
Grammar: Often followed by 'of': the etymology of 'nice'.
Patterns
- the etymology of a word
- trace the etymology of something
The dictionary gives the etymology of 'window' as coming from an old word for 'wind eye'.
Can you look up the etymology of 'salary'? I think it's related to salt.
The etymology of the place name is uncertain.
Word forms
| plural | etymologies |
|---|
Common combinations
- folk etymology
- The story that 'posh' stands for 'port out, starboard home' is a folk etymology, not a real one.
- the etymology of a word
- The etymology of 'computer' originally referred to a person who did calculations.
- trace the etymology
- Linguists trace the etymology of 'tea' back to Chinese dialects.
- popular etymology
- Popular etymology often changes words to make them seem more logical.
Synonyms and how they differ
- origin
- Broader: it can refer to the source of anything, not just words.
- derivation
- More technical and often focuses on the process of forming a word from another.
- word history
- A plain everyday phrase for the same idea, used in dictionaries for learners.
Word family
- etymological adjective
- Relating to the study of word origins.
- etymologist noun
- A person who studies word origins.
- etymologically adverb
- In a way that relates to word origins.
Commonly confused: etymology or entomology? etymology or definition?
etymology vs entomology
Entomology is the study of insects, while etymology is the study of word origins. They sound similar but are completely different subjects.
etymology vs definition
A definition explains what a word means now; etymology explains where the word came from.
Practice
The professor explained the ______ of the word 'quarantine', which comes from an Italian word meaning 'forty days'.
Choose one answer.
Etymology is the study of word origins, which fits the historical explanation. Entomology (insects) is a common confusion, and definition or pronunciation do not refer to origins.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “etymology”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.