WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
et•y•mol•o•gy /ˌɛtəˈmɑlədʒi/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -gies.
et•y•mol•o•gist /ˌɛtəˈmɑlədʒɪst/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Linguistics the history of words or word elements:[countable]a dictionary of etymology.
- Linguistics[uncountable] the study of historical linguistic change in individual words.
et•y•mol•o•gist /ˌɛtəˈmɑlədʒɪst/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
et•y•mol•o•gy
(et′ə mol′ə jē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -gies.
et•y•mo•log•i•cal
(et′ə mə loj′i kəl),USA pronunciation et′y•mo•log′ic, adj.
et′y•mo•log′i•cal•ly, adv.
et′y•mol′o•gist, n.
- Linguisticsthe derivation of a word.
- Linguisticsan account of the history of a particular word or element of a word.
- Linguisticsthe study of historical linguistic change, esp. as manifested in individual words.
- Greek etymología, equivalent. to etymológ(os) studying the true meanings and values of words (étymo(s) true (see etymon) + lógos word, reason) + -ia -y3
- Latin etymologia
- 1350–1400; Middle English
et′y•mol′o•gist, n.
'etymologically' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):