etymology

IPA: ɛtʌmˈɑɫʌdʒi

(uncountable, linguistics) The scientific study of the origin and evolution of a word's semantic meaning across time, including its constituent morphemes and phonemes.
(countable) The entire catalogue of meanings that a word, morpheme, or sign has carried throughout its history; lit. the logic of the etymon.
(countable) An account of the origin and historical development of a word as presented in a dictionary or the like.
(countable) The direct origin of a name, as in who someone was named after.

Examples of "etymology" in Sentences

First, despite what Wittgenstein said, etymology is not destiny*.
There seems little room for doubt: the acronym etymology is not valid.
Knowledge of etymology is completely unnecessary for using a language.
The word's etymology is traced to the late 19th Century, "perhaps from French esquiver, ` dodge, slink away. '"
A folk etymology is one that is widely believed but which is unfounded linguistically, though often it ‘seems’ right.
Since etymology is destiny, and right there in its original form 1000 years ago is twain, prescriptivists argue that between is illogical when more than two things are being discussed.