Etymo

etymology

The study of words’ origins and development.

Played on · Day 7 · word 3 of 5

A word about words.

How etymology reached English

oldest first
  • etymon‘true sense, original meaning’
  • -logia‘study of, a speaking of’

combined

  1. Greek

    etymologia

    ‘analysis of a word to find its true origin’

    into Latin

  2. Latin

    etymologia

    into Old French

  3. Old French

    etimologie

    into Middle English

  4. Middle English

    ethimologie

    ‘facts of the origin and development of a word’

    became English

  5. English

    etymology

The story of etymology

Etymology itself has a journey: Greek etymologia passed into Latin, then French and English. The Greek construction concerns a word’s true sense. Modern etymology investigates historical evidence rather than assuming that an original meaning is the only real one.

Sources

More words from 12 September 2026

  1. rucksackA bag carried on the back.
  2. sherbetA sweet chilled preparation; its form varies by region.
  3. rivalSomeone competing for the same thing.
  4. saunaA room or bath using intense heat.

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