Et`y*mol"o*gy (-j?), n.;
pl. Etymologies (-jĭz). [L.
etymologia, Gr. 'etymologi`a; 'e`tymon
etymon + lo`gos discourse, description: cf. F.
étymologie. 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.