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Etymology

It just struck me that one of the things I've been doing in my attempt to explain why Latin is so interesting to me has a name: etymology. Here's the dictionary definition.

  1. The origin and historical development of a linguistic form as shown by determining its basic elements, earliest known use, and changes in form and meaning, tracing its transmission from one language to another, and identifying its cognates in other languages.

  2. The branch of linguistics that deals with etymologies.

If, like me, you find that first one a bit hard to parse, just note that there are three parts (clauses?), starting with “determining”, “tracing”, and “identifying”.

It's too bad there's not a nicer corresponding verb than “etymologize” … you have to admit that's a little clunky.

 

  See Also

  Healthy Disrespect for Authority
  Proverbs Are Ideas Too

@ April (2000)