Et`y*mol"o*gy (-j&ybreve;), n.; pl. Etymologies (-j&ibreve;z). [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.

• The study of the origin of words. The word may be used to describe the science dealing with the origin of words.
  
• The origin of a word.
       *The etymology of this word may be found above, under etymology.
       Quotations
       *a. 1571 The etymology which the Dorians give, seems indeed more probable, than that of the Athenians; for how can Comodein, be made of the word Comazein. — Lodovico Castelvetro, Aristotle's Art of Poetry, page 28.
       *1583 Amonge all other Artes, forgett not the Mathematikes. for the Etymologie of their name, exhortes you to learne them. — Brian Melbancke, Philotimus (1583), page 98.
       *1693 But in former times, the Name of Satire was given to Poems, which were compos'd of several sorts of Verses; such as were made by Ennius, and Pacuvius; more fully expressing the Etymology of the word Satire, from Satura, which we have observ'd — John Dryde, The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis, page 26.