from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Etymology \Et`y*mol"o*gy\ (-j[y^]), n.; pl. {Etymologies}
(-j[i^]z). [L.etymologia, Gr. 'etymologi`a; 'e`tymon etymon +
lo`gos discourse, description: cf. F. ['e]tymologie. 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. That part of grammar which relates to the changes in the
form of the words in a language; inflection.
[1913 Webster]