philology

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the scholarly study of historical texts through their language, transmission, literary context, and interpretation

   Her philology combined close study of the manuscript with knowledge of medieval grammar.

2. 2
   noun

   historical or comparative study of languages, especially in older academic usage

   Nineteenth-century philology reconstructed relationships among Indo-European languages.

Through Latin philologia from Greek philologia ("love of learning, literature, or discussion"), formed from philos ("loving") + logos ("word, discourse, study"). Its modern sense narrowed toward the historical study of languages and texts.

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