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et·y·mol·o·gy
 etymology
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- pronunciation:
- e
t
ma
lih
ji
- features:
- Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
etymologies |
| definition 1: |
an explanation of the history of a word and its meanings.
An etymology tells where a word came from originally, how its meaning might have changed over time, and how it may have a developed additional meanings. |
| definition 2: |
the branch of language study that deals with the origins and development of words and their meanings.
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| related words: |
derivation |
| derivations: |
etymological (adj.), etymologically (adv.), etymologist (n.) |
The word etymology
contains the following part:
-logy, -ology
Greek
noun-forming suffix
that means study of, science of; written work; structure or principle
  More about this word part:
The suffix -logy
, -ology
forms nouns from bases that are predominantly Greek roots. It is a terminal form of the root log, logo, -logue which in the vast majority cases signifies the study or science of the subject indicated by the base. In some words, however, -ology
carries the meaning "written work" (trilogy) or "structure" (homology). See log, logo, -logue. Most nouns ending in -logy
, -ology
have an adjective form ending in "-ical." (dermatology, dermatological).
Example words:
anthology, anthropology, apology, archeology, astrology, biology, ecology, etymology, geology, mythology, ornithology, paleontology, psychology, technology, zoology
- synonyms:
- -ics
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