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• Etymology is the study of the history of words and phrases. Words evolve and change over time. By looking at the usage of words in documents from previous eras, etymologists can learn when the word first entered usage, how the pronunciation and spelling may have changed, and how its meaning might have altered over time. Etymology can give insight into history; if a large group of words entered one language from another during one particular period, for example, it may indicate a large migration of a group of people or the invasion of one people by another. Etymology can also show if several languages evolved from a common root language.

• Fast Facts

  1. Etymology: Greek for true meaning
  2. Etymologists: People that study etymology
  3. Modern etymology started in late 1700s

• History of etymology

  Modern etymology has its roots in ancient Sanskrit linguistics, studied in India. While etymology was performed between that period and the modern era, very little of it had any scientific basis. In 1782, Englishman Sir William Jones noted similarities between Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin, and modern linguistics were born.

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