etymologies

1 definition found

etymologies - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Etymology \Et`y*mol"o*gy\ (-j[y^]), n.; pl. Etymologies
     (-j[i^]z). [L.etymologia, Gr. 'etymologi`a; 'e`tymon etymon +
     lo`gos discourse, description: cf. F. ['e]tymologie. See
     Etymon, and -logy.]
     1. That branch of philological science which treats of the
        history of words, tracing out their origin, primitive
        significance, and changes of form and meaning.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That part of grammar which relates to the changes in the
        form of the words in a language; inflection.
        [1913 Webster]