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Definition of: etymology
(et′ə·mol′ə·jē) noun plural ·gies
1. The history of a word as indicated by breaking it down into basic elements, or by tracing it back to the earliest known form or root, with all its changes in form and meaning; also, a statement of this.
2. The study of the derivation of words. See FOLK ETYMOLOGY. [<F etymologie <L etymologia <Gk. <etymon original meaning + logos word, study]
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