[L. etymon, a. Gr. ἔτυμον (orig. neut. of ἔτυμος true): (1) the ‘true’ literal sense of a word according to its origin; (2) its ‘true’ or original form; (3) hence, in post-classical grammatical writings, the root or primary word from which a derivative is formed.
According to Brugmann, ἔτυμος is for a prehistoric *s-etumo-s, f. ’s weak grade of OAryan *es to be + suffixes.]
† 1. The primitive form of a word; the word or combination of words from which it has been corrupted. Sometimes nearly = ETYMOLOGY 1 b, 1 c.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 477. Thus much then concerning the Etymon of this woorde Gavelkinde.
1606. Peacham, Graphice (1612), 83. Blew hath his Etymon from the high Dutch, Blaw.
1651. H. More, Second Lash, in Enthus. Triumph (1656), 227. For the word must so signifie, as I did above prove, both from Testimony, and might also from the Etymon of the word.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 451. The true Etymon of Jupiter … being not Juvans Pater, but Jovis Pater.
1768. Swinton, in Phil. Trans., LVIII. 239. The etymon laid down here seems more apposite and natural than that obtruded upon the learned world by Bochart.
1793. Pinkerton, in D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), 129/2. Of the etymon of pamphlet I know nothing.
2. The primary word that gives rise to a derivative.
1659. T. Pecke, Parnassi Puerp., 58. Nummus denotes Money told out; Upon This Fancy, Number, will give Etymon.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., I. 429. Greek etymons have become universal in the science.
a. 1834. Lamb, Lett. to Manning, v. 48. Logic is nothing more than a knowledge of words, as the Greek etymon implies.
1873. Whitney, Orient. Stud., 210. Enabling them [the roots] to stand as etymons of almost any given word.
1882. Edin. Rev., July, 114. The name has an evidently Norman etymon.
† 3. Original or primary signification. Obs. rare.
1619. Sir J. Sempill, Sacrilege Handled, App. 43. Take him in his true Etymon, and Morall will be, but, whatsoeuer concerneth Manners.
1627. W. Sclater, Exp. 2 Thess. (1629), 223. Ἀτοποι, those are to them after the Grammer Etymon, men of of no setled abode; vaguing, or vagabund Iewes.
a. 1634. R. Clerke, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxxii. 6. Peace denominates Jerusalem, ’tis the etymon of the word.
a. 1834. Coleridge (Webster). The import here given as the etymon or genuine sense of the word.
† 4. The true name of a thing. Obs.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., 67 ¶ 106. Neither dare they call their … medicines by their proper Etymon: that is to say, they hide Scammony, under the name of diagredium.
Hence Etymonic a. rare–1. Pertaining to the etymon; etymological.
1813. W. Taylor, Eng. Synonyms (1856), 128. The application of the word anterior to time only, is neither based on ancient practice nor etymonic necessity.
