etymology

The definition of etymology is the source of a word, or the study of the source of specific words.

(noun)

An example of etymology is tracing a word back to its Latin roots.

See etymology in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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
the branch of linguistics dealing with word origin and development

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

See etymology in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. et·y·mol·o·gies

The origin and historical development of a linguistic form as shown by determining its basic elements, earliest known use, and changes in form and meaning, tracing its transmission from one language to another, identifying its cognates in other languages, and reconstructing its ancestral form where possible.
The branch of linguistics that deals with etymologies.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English etimologie

Origin: , from Old French ethimologie

Origin: , from Medieval Latin ethimologia

Origin: , from Latin etymologia

Origin: , from Greek etumologiā

Origin: : etumon, true sense of a word; see etymon

Origin: + -logiā, -logy

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