— etymological /et'euh meuh loj"i keuhl/ , etymologic , adj. — etymologically , adv. — etymologist , n.
/et'euh mol"euh jee/ , n. , pl. etymologies .
1. the derivation of a word.
2. an account of the history of a particular word or element of a word.
3. the study of historical linguistic change, esp. as manifested in individual words.
[ 1350-1400; ME etymologia etymología, equiv. to etymológ ( os ) studying the true meanings and values of words ( étymo ( s ) true (see ETYMON) + lógos word, reason) + -ia -Y 3 ]