SettingsEtymology
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely such that an acronym can be formed to a specific word.
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely such that an acronym can be formed to a specific word.
Balderdash and Piffle
Balderdash and Piffle was a British television programme made by Takeaway Media for the BBC. Presented by Victoria Coren, it was a companion to the Oxford English Dictionary's Wordhunt, ...
Balderdash and Piffle was a British television programme made by Takeaway Media for the BBC. Presented by Victoria Coren, it was a companion to the Oxford English Dictionary's Wordhunt, ...
Calque
In linguistics, a calque or loan translation is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word (Latin: "verbum pro verbo") or root-for-root translation.
In linguistics, a calque or loan translation is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word (Latin: "verbum pro verbo") or root-for-root translation.
Classical compound
Classical compounds (also known as neoclassical compounds, and combining forms) are compound words composed from Latin or Ancient Greek root words.
Classical compounds (also known as neoclassical compounds, and combining forms) are compound words composed from Latin or Ancient Greek root words.
Eggcorn
In linguistics, an eggcorn is an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect.
In linguistics, an eggcorn is an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect.
Endogeny
The word endogenous derives from the ενδογενής, meaning "proceeding from within", the complement of exogenous "proceeding from outside".
The word endogenous derives from the ενδογενής, meaning "proceeding from within", the complement of exogenous "proceeding from outside".
Etymological dictionary
An etymological dictionary discusses the etymology of the words listed.
An etymological dictionary discusses the etymology of the words listed.
Etymological fallacy
The etymological fallacy is a genetic fallacy that holds, erroneously, that the historical meaning of a word or phrase is necessarily similar to its actual present-day meaning.
The etymological fallacy is a genetic fallacy that holds, erroneously, that the historical meaning of a word or phrase is necessarily similar to its actual present-day meaning.
Etymologicum Magnum
Etymologicum Magnum (Ἐτυμολογικὸν Μέγα) (standard abbreviation EM) is the traditional title of a Greek lexical encyclopedia compiled at Constantinople by an unknown lexicographer a...
Etymologicum Magnum (Ἐτυμολογικὸν Μέγα) (standard abbreviation EM) is the traditional title of a Greek lexical encyclopedia compiled at Constantinople by an unknown lexicographer a...
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.
Exogeny
Exogenous (or exogeneous) (from the Greek words "exo" and "gignomi", meaning "outside" and "to come to be") refers to an action or object coming from outside a system.
Exogenous (or exogeneous) (from the Greek words "exo" and "gignomi", meaning "outside" and "to come to be") refers to an action or object coming from outside a system.
Expressive loan
An expressive loan is a loanword incorporated into the expressive system of the borrowing language, making it resemble native words or onomatopoeia.
An expressive loan is a loanword incorporated into the expressive system of the borrowing language, making it resemble native words or onomatopoeia.
False etymology
A false etymology is a popularly held but false belief about the origins of specific words, especially where these originate in "common-sense" assumptions rather than serious research.
A false etymology is a popularly held but false belief about the origins of specific words, especially where these originate in "common-sense" assumptions rather than serious research.
Family name affixes
Family name affixes are a clue for family name etymology and can sometimes determine the ethnic origin of a person.
Family name affixes are a clue for family name etymology and can sometimes determine the ethnic origin of a person.
Folk etymology
Folk etymology is change in a word or phrase over time resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more familiar one.
Folk etymology is change in a word or phrase over time resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more familiar one.
Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch
The Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (French Etymological Dictionary) or FEW is the principal etymological dictionary of the Gallo-Romance languages (such as French).
The Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (French Etymological Dictionary) or FEW is the principal etymological dictionary of the Gallo-Romance languages (such as French).
Hybrid word
A hybrid word is a word which etymologically has one part derived from one language and another part derived from a different language.
A hybrid word is a word which etymologically has one part derived from one language and another part derived from a different language.
Loanword
A loanword is a word borrowed from a donor language and incorporated into another language, the recipient language.
A loanword is a word borrowed from a donor language and incorporated into another language, the recipient language.
Logodaedaly
Logodaedaly, logodaedalus, logodaedalist and logodaedale are related words to be found in the larger dictionaries of the English language.
Logodaedaly, logodaedalus, logodaedalist and logodaedale are related words to be found in the larger dictionaries of the English language.
Medieval etymology
Medieval etymology is the study of the history of words as conducted by scholars in the European Middle Ages.
Medieval etymology is the study of the history of words as conducted by scholars in the European Middle Ages.
Name of Quebec City
The proper name of Quebec City is Québec (with an acute accent), in both official languages of Canada (English and French).
The proper name of Quebec City is Québec (with an acute accent), in both official languages of Canada (English and French).
Nirukta
Nirukta (निरुक्त,, explanation, etymological interpretation) is one of the six disciplines of Hinduism, treating etymology, particularly of obscure words, especially those occurring in the ...
Nirukta (निरुक्त,, explanation, etymological interpretation) is one of the six disciplines of Hinduism, treating etymology, particularly of obscure words, especially those occurring in the ...
Online Etymology Dictionary
The Online Etymology Dictionary is an online dictionary that describes the origins of English-language words.
The Online Etymology Dictionary is an online dictionary that describes the origins of English-language words.
Oregon (toponym)
The origin of the name of the U.S. state of Oregon is unknown, and a subject of some dispute.
The origin of the name of the U.S. state of Oregon is unknown, and a subject of some dispute.
Rebracketing
Rebracketing (also known as juncture loss, junctural metanalysis, false splitting, misdivision, or refactorization) is a common process in historical linguistics wh...
Rebracketing (also known as juncture loss, junctural metanalysis, false splitting, misdivision, or refactorization) is a common process in historical linguistics wh...
Syndicate
A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies or criminals formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest or in the case of criminals, to engage in...
A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies or criminals formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest or in the case of criminals, to engage in...
Tadbhava
Tadbhava (तद्भव, ) is one of three etymological classes defined by native grammarians of middle Indo-Aryan languages.
Tadbhava (तद्भव, ) is one of three etymological classes defined by native grammarians of middle Indo-Aryan languages.
Tatsama
Tatsama (तत्सम, ) are Sanskrit loanwords in modern Indic languages like Bengali, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Sinhala and Central Dravidian language Telugu.
Tatsama (तत्सम, ) are Sanskrit loanwords in modern Indic languages like Bengali, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Sinhala and Central Dravidian language Telugu.
Word formation
In linguistics, word formation is the creation of a new word.
In linguistics, word formation is the creation of a new word.
Wordhunt
Wordhunt was a national appeal run by the Oxford English Dictionary, looking for earlier evidence of the use of 50 words and phrases in the English language.
Wordhunt was a national appeal run by the Oxford English Dictionary, looking for earlier evidence of the use of 50 words and phrases in the English language.