etymology

noun

1. (uncountable)The scientific study of the origin and evolution of a word's semantic meaning across time, including its constituent morphemes and phonemes.

   “Holonyms: historical linguistics < linguistics”

2. (countable)The entire catalogue of meanings that a word, morpheme, or sign has carried throughout its history.

   “Although written the same, the words lead (the metal) and lead (the verb) have totally different etymologies.”

   “The etymology of the term Japlish is disputed and contentiously so.”

3. (countable)An account of the origin and historical development of a word as presented in a dictionary or the like.

   “I began to study coats of arms, visit the Web sites of portrait galleries and look up the etymology of Gaelic names.”

   “Where did this name Harlequin (or Arlechin) come from? Most etymologies for the name give the Hellequin theory.”

4. (countable)The direct origin of a name, as in who someone was named after.

   “I'm sure you know the etymology of your name, Goodspeed.”