Forms: [4 with Latin termination ethimolegia], 5–6 ethi-, ethymologie, -y(e, (5 ethimilogie), 6–7 ætym-, etim-, etymologie, -y(e, 6– etymology. [a. OF. ethimologie, mod.F. etymologie, ad. L. etymologia, a. Gr. ἐτυμολογία, f. ἐτυμολόγ-ος: see ETYMOLOGE.]
1. a. The process of tracing out and describing the elements of a word with their modifications of form and sense.
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Log., I. xii. 51. Notation or Etymologie is the interpretation of the word.
1725. Watts, Logick, I. iv. § 1. 72–3 This tracing of a Word to its Original (which is called Etymology), is sometimes a very precarious and uncertain Thing.
1786. H. Tooke, Purley (1798), I. ix. 456. The explanation and etymology of those words … require a degree of knowledge in all the antient northern languages.
¶ With explanation drawn from the Gr. derivation. (Cf. L. veriloquium, by which Cicero renders the Gr. word.)
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Etymologie, true expounding.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Voc., Etymologie, The true Exposition or interpretation of a thing.
b. An instance of this process; an account of the formation and radical signification of a word.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 34. As Ysider tellith in the third book of Ethimilogies.
1575. Turberv., Falconrie, 204. So that the etymologie of the name proceedeth all upon one cause.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., V. ii. 8. Neither let this Etymologie of Britaines seeme to be either harsh or absurd, seeing the very words sound alike [etc.].
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. i. (1675), 296. Critical Inquiries into Obsolete Rites, or Disputable Etymologies.
1755. Johnson, Pref. Dict., Wks. IX. 201. For the Teutonick etymologies, I am commonly indebted to Junius and Skinner.
1845. Stoddart, in Encycl. Metrop. (1847), I. 166/1. A little investigation will show this etymology [of since] to be entirely erroneous.
c. The facts relating to the formation or derivation (of a word). (In 16–17th c. occur confused expressions such as ‘the etymology comes from,’ ‘to derive the etymology from.’)
[1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. ii. (1495), 50. What is the menynge of the Ethimolegia and the settyng of this name?]
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 46. Yf we them dewly kun applye And ordenelly aftyr the ethimologye.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 276. Dagon … as maie be iudged by the Etimologie of the word, was some God of the Sea. For Dag in Hebrue signifieth a fish.
1583. Fulke, Defence (1843), 267. The etymology of this English word ‘priest’ cometh from presbyter.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 683. Heralt … is meerely a Teutonic or Duytch word, and in that tongue and no other, the true Ætymologie thereof is onely to be found.
1651. Howell, Venice, 34. Som derive the Etimologie of this rare Cittie from Venetia, which in old Latin signifieth the frothing or seething of the Sea.
1666. G. Harvey, Morb. Angl., ii. 7–8 (J.). Phthisis … is generally taken for any universal diminution (lessening) and colliquation (melting) of the body, which acceptation its Etymology (derivation) … implyes.
1725. Watts, Logick, I. iv. § 1. 75. If the Meaning of a Word could be learnt by its Derivation or Etymology, yet [etc.].
1865. Max Müller, Chips (1880), II. xxv. 260. The etymology of a word can never give us its definition.
transf. 1864. Kirk, Chas. Bold, I. ii. 48. Those distinctions of origin, habits, dialect, and history which constitute what may be termed the etymology of the nation.
† d. Etymological sense, original meaning. Obs.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., I. ii. Ateu. What’s thy name? Nano. Nano. Ateu. The etymology of which word is a dwarf.
1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentlew. (1641), 332. This name [widowes] … hath received one consonant Etymology; deprived or destitute.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 470, ¶ 10 (J.). Pelvis being used by several of the Ancient Comick Writers for a Looking-Glass, by which means the Etymology of the Word is very visible.
2. That branch of linguistic science which is concerned with determining the origin of words.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. vi. 93. Others have better observed the laws of Etymology, and deduced it from a word of the same language.
1797. Godwin, Enquirer, I. vi. 44. The science of etymology has been earnestly recommended.
1862. Marsh, Eng. Lang., iii. 48. Etymology, is the study of the primitive, derivative, and figurative forms and meanings of words.
1864. Max Müller, Sc. Lang., Ser. II. vi. (1868), 242. As long as etymology was carried on on such principles it could not claim the name of a science.
3. Gram. That part of grammar which treats of individual words, the parts of speech separately, their formation and inflexions.
1592. West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 100 B. The rules of Grammer, touching either the Ætymologie or Syntaxis therof.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., ix. (1627), 127. For the Etymologie; all the difficulty is in these three parts of speech, Nowns, Verbs, and Participles.
1669. Milton, Accedence, Wks. (1847), 457/1. Etymology, or right wording, teacheth what belongs to every single word or part of speech.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iii. 304. Etymology and Syntax, as Grammarians call them.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 60. The second part of grammar is etymology.
