ETYMOLOGY

etymology. Etymology, n. the true derivitive of words

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Et′y‐mol″o‐gy (–jy̆), n.; pl. Etymologies (–jĭz). [[L. etymologia, Gr. ετυμολογἴα; ἔτυμον etymon + λόγοσ discourse, description: cf. F. étymologie. See Etymon, and -logy.]] 1. 1. That branch of philological science which treats of the history of words, tracing out their origin, primitive significance, and changes of form and meaning.
2. 2. That part of grammar which relates to the changes in the form of the words in a language; inflection.