etymology

Everyday

1. Etymology is the study of where words come from and how they have changed over time. tree →
2. The etymology of a word is its own history: which language it came from and what it meant before. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons, knowing the etymology of a word helps with spelling and meaning: «bicycle» has «bi» (two) and «cycle» (wheel) from Greek and Latin. Many English words come from Latin, Greek, French, Old Norse and Old English. Phrases: «the etymology of», «folk etymology» (a popular but wrong story about a word's origin).

Examples

• The etymology of «breakfast» is «breaking your fast» after the night. tree →
• I love etymology because every word has a story. tree →
• «Dinosaur» has a Greek etymology meaning «terrible lizard». tree →
• The dictionary gives the etymology at the end of each entry. tree →
• Etymology shows that «hello» and «hallo» are related. tree →
• Some funny stories about word origins are false etymologies. tree →

Note

Plural: etymologies. Do not confuse with «entomology», the study of insects (remember: insects have six legs, and «ent» like «ant»). Many famous word-origin stories (for example that «posh» means «port out, starboard home») are myths.