etymology
Definitions
The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
An account of the origin and historical development of a particular word.
Examples
The professor spent the entire lecture explaining the fascinating etymology of common English idioms.
If you are interested in the etymology of the word 'quarantine', you should look up its origins in the Venetian language.
Synonyms
word origin derivation root linguistic history source provenance