— philological /fil'euh loj"i keuhl/ , philologic , adj. — philologically , adv. — philologist, philologer , n.
/fi lol"euh jee/ , n.
1. the study of literary texts and of written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.
2. (esp. in older use) linguistics, esp. historical and comparative linguistics.
3. Obs. the love of learning and literature.
[ 1350-1400; ME philologie philologia philología love of learning and literature, equiv. to philólog ( os ) literary, studious, argumentative + -ia -Y 3 . See PHILO-, -LOGY ]