etymology
English meaning: Etymology
English Definition
(English)Etymology (from Greek: etymon = true sense + logos = word/study) traces the history and development of words — their origin, meaning changes, and transmission between languages. Many English words derive from Latin, Greek, French, or Germanic roots. Learning etymology helps decode unfamiliar words by recognising common roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
English Definition
The study of the historical origin and development of words, tracing them to their earliest known use and reconstructing their evolution through time. Understanding etymology deepens vocabulary, reading comprehension, and language learning.
Example
“The word 'democracy' comes from Greek demos (people) and kratos (power) — understanding this etymology illuminates the concept itself.”
In English: “The etymology of 'democracy' reveals its meaning — power of the people.”
Synonyms
- word history
- word origin
- linguistic derivation
Literary Heritage
“You taught me language, and my profit on't is I know how to curse.”
“You taught me language, and my profit on't is I know how to curse.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B