etymologize

3 definitions found

etymologize - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\ (-j[imac]z), v. t. [Cf. F.
     ['e]tymologiser.]
     To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive,
     as a word. --Camden
     [1913 Webster]

  Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\, v. t.
     To search into the origin of words; to deduce words from
     their simple roots.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           How perilous it is to etymologize at random. --Trench.
     [1913 Webster]

etymologize - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  etymologize
      v 1: give the etymology or derivation or suggest an etymology
           (for a word); "The linguist probably etymologized the words
           incorrectly"; "Although he is not trained in this, his
           hobby is etymologizing" [syn: etymologize, etymologise]
      2: construct the history of words [syn: etymologize,
         etymologise]