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Definitions from the Web

Etymology

Definition

Noun: Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words, their formation, and how their meanings have evolved over time.

Verb: Etymology refers to the act of studying and tracing the history and origins of words.

Senses

Sense 1 (Noun)

Etymology in this sense, explores the historical development of words, including their linguistic changes and influences from different languages.

Example sentence: The etymology of the word "paradox" can be traced back to its origins in ancient Greek.

Sense 2 (Verb)

Etymology as a verb involves researching and analyzing the origin and development of particular words or phrases.

Example sentence: Linguists often etymology words to uncover their roots and understand their semantic shifts.

Usages

Usage 1 (Popular)

In popular usage, etymology is often discussed as a fascinating way to discover the intriguing histories of familiar words and phrases we use every day.

Example sentence: Many people are amazed by the etymology of common expressions like "butterflies in your stomach" and "shooting the breeze."

Usage 2 (Local)

In a local context, etymology can be explored to understand regional dialects and variations in word origins within a specific geographic area.

Example sentence: Linguists specializing in Scottish dialects often delve into the etymology of Scots words to unravel the language's unique history.

Related Products

For further exploration of etymology, you may be interested in the following books:

• Etymology: An Introduction to History of Words and Languages
• Word Origins: The Hidden Histories of English Words from A to Z
• Linguistics: An Introduction to the Study of Language