philologist

C2 Topic:Language & Linguistics

US /fɪˈlɑːlədʒɪst/ UK /fɪˈlɒlədʒɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #105996

Meanings

1

noun
a scholar who studies the historical development, structure, and relationships of languages, especially through written texts

The philologist compared sound changes across the oldest surviving manuscripts.
2

noun
a scholar of classical language, literature, and textual interpretation

As a classical philologist, she reconstructed the damaged Greek passage from several copies.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a scholar who studies the... historical linguistphilologer

2 noun · a scholar of classical... classical scholartextual scholar

Word family

Forms philologists

Derived forms philologicalphilologically

Related forms philologylinguistetymologisttextual criticism

Etymology

From philology + -ist. Philology comes through Latin philologia from Greek philologia, "love of learning or discussion," built from philos ("loving") and logos ("word, speech, study"). The modern profession developed around historical language study and the close interpretation of texts.

Topics

Language & Linguistics Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style General Vocabulary

External links

# philologist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /fɪˈlɑːlədʒɪst/
**IPA (UK):** /fɪˈlɒlədʒɪst/
**Frequency rank:** 105996

## Meanings
1. a scholar who studies the historical development, structure, and relationships of languages, especially through written texts
2. a scholar of classical language, literature, and textual interpretation

## Examples
- The philologist compared sound changes across the oldest surviving manuscripts.
- As a classical philologist, she reconstructed the damaged Greek passage from several copies.

## Synonyms
- historical linguist
- philologer
- classical scholar

## Derived Forms
- philological
- philologically

## Related Forms
- philology
- linguist
- etymologist
- textual criticism

## Etymology
From philology + -ist. Philology comes through Latin philologia from Greek philologia, "love of learning or discussion," built from philos ("loving") and logos ("word, speech, study"). The modern profession developed around historical language study and the close interpretation of texts.

## Topics
- Language & Linguistics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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