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Etymology (/ ˌ ɛ t ɪ ˈ m ɒ l ə dʒ i / ET-im-OL-ə-jee [1]) is the study of the origin and evolution of words—including their constituent units of sound and meaning—across time. [2] In the 21st century a subfield within linguistics , etymology has become a more rigorously scientific study. [ 1 ]
There are many examples of words borrowed from foreign languages, and subsequently changed by folk etymology. The spelling of many borrowed words reflects folk etymology. For example, andiron borrowed from Old French was variously spelled aundyre or aundiren in Middle English, but was altered by association with iron. [14]
Consider, for example, some of the most common words in ... other spelling changes have included alterations due to folk etymology e.g. andiron, belfry ...
An etymological dictionary discusses the etymology of the words listed. Often, large dictionaries, such as the Oxford English Dictionary and Webster's, will contain some etymological information, without aspiring to focus on etymology. [1] Etymological dictionaries are the product of research in historical linguistics. For many words in any ...
Origin language and etymology Example(s) dacry(o)-of or pertaining to tears: Greek δάκρυ, tear dacryoadenitis, dacryocystitis-dactyl(o)-of or pertaining to a finger, toe Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos), finger, toe dactylology, polydactyly: de-from, down, or away from Latin de-dehydrate, demonetize, demotion dent-of or pertaining to teeth
The English language uses many Greek and Latin roots, stems, and prefixes.These roots are listed alphabetically on three pages: Greek and Latin roots from A to G; Greek and Latin roots from H to O
Examples of doublets from the first and second periods are catch vs. chase, cattle vs. chattel, and warden vs. guardian. More recent borrowings are often distinguished by maintaining the French spelling and pronunciation, e.g. chef (vs. chief), pâté (vs. paste), fête (vs. feast).
This list contains Germanic elements of the English language which have a close corresponding Latinate form. The correspondence is semantic—in most cases these words are not cognates, but in some cases they are doublets, i.e., ultimately derived from the same root, generally Proto-Indo-European, as in cow and beef, both ultimately from PIE *gʷōus.