Etymology \Et`y*mol"o*gy\ (-j[y^]), n.; pl. Etymologies (-j[i^]z). [L. etymologia, Gr. 'etymologi`a; 'e`tymon etymon + lo`gos discourse, description: cf. F. ['e]tymologie. See Etymon, and -logy.]

1. That branch of philological science which treats of the history of words, tracing out their origin, primitive significance, and changes of form and meaning.

2. That part of grammar which relates to the changes in the form of the words in a language; inflection.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)