What is Etymology?

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Etymology is the study of the origin and historical development of words. It is a branch of linguistics that traces the "life story" of words, from their earliest known appearance to how their forms, pronunciations, and meanings have changed over time.

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Think of it like being a detective for words. An etymologist might investigate:

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Word origins: Where did a word first come from? Was it created from scratch, or borrowed from another language? For example, the word "etymology" itself comes from the Greek words etymon ("true sense") and -logia ("study of").

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Semantic shifts: How has the meaning of a word changed? A word that meant one thing in the past might mean something completely different today. For instance, the word "nice" originally meant "foolish" or "ignorant" in the 13th century.

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Phonological changes: How has the pronunciation of a word evolved?

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Borrowing: Which words have been adopted from other languages? Many English words, for example, have Latin, French, or Germanic roots.

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By understanding etymology, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of languages and the way that history and culture are reflected in the words we use every day.

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According to Cambridge Dictionary: Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words, or a study of this type relating to one particular word: 

Example 1: At college she developed an interest in etymology. 

Example 2: A list of selected words and their etymologies is printed at the back of the book. 

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