etymological

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌɛtɪməˈlɑdʒɪkəl/ UK /ˌetɪməˈlɒdʒɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #188949

Meanings

1

adj
relating to etymology or the historical origin and development of words

The dictionary includes an etymological note beneath every headword.
2

adj
of a form or meaning: consistent with a word's historical source

The older spelling is closer to the term's etymological form.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to etymology or... word-historical

2 adj · of a form or meaning:... historically derived

Word family

Forms etymologically

Derived forms etymologicallynonetymologicalpseudoetymological

Related forms etymologyetymologistetymonfolk etymology

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

etymological dictionary
a dictionary explaining where words came from and how they developed

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Formed from etymology + -ical. Etymology came through Latin and Old French from Greek etymologia, built from etymon ('true sense; origin of a word') + -logia ('study, account'). The adjective describes evidence, arguments, or forms concerned with a word's history.

Topics

Describing Qualities Language & Linguistics Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# etymological

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌɛtɪməˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌetɪməˈlɒdʒɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 188949

## Meanings
1. relating to etymology or the historical origin and development of words
2. of a form or meaning: consistent with a word's historical source

## Examples
- The dictionary includes an etymological note beneath every headword.
- The older spelling is closer to the term's etymological form.

## Synonyms
- word-historical

## Derived Forms
- etymologically
- nonetymological
- pseudoetymological

## Related Forms
- etymology
- etymologist
- etymon
- folk etymology

## Etymology
Formed from etymology + -ical. Etymology came through Latin and Old French from Greek etymologia, built from etymon ('true sense; origin of a word') + -logia ('study, account'). The adjective describes evidence, arguments, or forms concerned with a word's history.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Language & Linguistics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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