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etymology definition

ety·mol·ogy (-jē)

noun pl. etymologies -·gies

  1. the origin and development of a word, affix, phrase, etc.; the tracing of a word or other form back as far as possible in its own language and to its source in contemporary or earlier languages: in this dictionary etymologies are given in doubled brackets preceding the senses to which they apply
  2. the branch of linguistics dealing with word origin and development

Etymology: ME & OFr ethimologie < L etymologia < Gr: see etymon & -logy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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