Etymology: The Study of Word History

Etymology is the study of the history of words. It can be used to:

• Trace the origins of a word.
• Find out how a word has changed over time.

How Etymologists Do Their Work

Etymologists often use old texts, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, to find out about the history of a word. They may also use other sources, such as books on the history of language.

Understanding Meaning and Culture

Etymology can be used to:

• Help understand the meaning of a word. For example, the word etymology comes from the Greek etymon, meaning "true sense." So, when you look up the etymology of a word, you are looking for its true sense.
• Help understand the history of a culture. For example, the word sauna comes from the Finnish word sauna, which means "bath." So, we can see that the Finns have a long tradition of taking baths.

A Useful Tool

Etymology is a useful tool for anyone who wants to find out more about words and their origins.