etymology
noun/ˌetɪˈmɒlədʒi/
/ˌetɪˈmɑːlədʒi/
(plural etymologies)
- [uncountable] the study of the origin and history of words and their meaningsTopics Historyc2, Languagec2
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- [countable] the origin and history of a particular wordTopics Historyc2, Languagec2
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French ethimologie, via Latin from Greek etumologia, from etumologos ‘student of etymology’, from etumon, neuter singular of etumos ‘true’.
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etymology