etymology

Where does the word "etymology" come from? It comes from Greek etymon, passing through Greek, Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Etymology’s story begins in Greek: etymon meant “the true sense of a word.” The true sense of a word, from etymos (true, real). Within Greek, it grew into etymologia by ancient. Formed within Greek itself from etymon (true sense) and -logia (study of); Stoic philosophers used the term for analyzing a word's true original sense. From there it passed into Latin as etymologia by ancient. Borrowed directly from Greek unchanged; the Roman scholar Varro wrote extensively on etymologia in his 'De Lingua Latina'. Old French picked it up next, as ethimologie, around medieval. Carried into French for the study of word origins. It reached English by 1300s as etymology. Settled as the English word for the study of a word's history and origin. Today, etymology means the study of the origin and historical development of words.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient etymon "the true sense of a word", the true sense of a word, from etymos (true, real).
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient etymologia "the study of a word's true origin", formed within Greek itself from etymon (true sense) and -logia (study of); Stoic philosophers used the term for analyzing a word's true original sense.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient etymologia "the study of a word's true origin", borrowed directly from Greek unchanged; the Roman scholar Varro wrote extensively on etymologia in his 'De Lingua Latina'.
4. Stage 4 · Old French · medieval ethimologie "the study of word origins", carried into French for the study of word origins.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1300s etymology "the study of a word's history and origin", settled as the English word for the study of a word's history and origin.