et ‧ y ‧ mol ‧ o ‧ gy /ˌetəˈmɒlədʒi, ˌetɪˈmɒlədʒi $ -ˈmɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: etymologia , from Greek , from etymon 'original meaning' , from etymos 'true' ]
1 . [uncountable] the study of the origins, history, and changing meanings of words
2 . [countable] a description of the history of a word
—etymologist noun [countable]
—etymological /ˌetəməˈlɒdʒɪk ə l◂, ˌetɪməˈlɒdʒɪk ə l◂ $ -ˈlɑː-/ adjective
—etymologically /-kli/ adverb