etymologize

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

etymologize
    v 1: give the etymology or derivation or suggest an etymology
         (for a word); "The linguist probably etymologized the words
         incorrectly"; "Although he is not trained in this, his
         hobby is etymologizing" [syn: {etymologize}, {etymologise}]
    2: construct the history of words [syn: {etymologize},
       {etymologise}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\ (-j[imac]z), v. t. [Cf. F.
   ['e]tymologiser.]
   To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive,
   as a word. --Camden
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\, v. t.
   To search into the origin of words; to deduce words from
   their simple roots.
   [1913 Webster]

         How perilous it is to etymologize at random. --Trench.
   [1913 Webster]

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