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Glite Dictionary
to etymologize

to etymologize

9.9
To explain where a word came from and how it changed
  • verb
  • /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒaɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : etimologizar
  • The dictionary entry provides a section that aims to etymologize each word's origins and historical usage.

Examples

  • To better understand the evolution of language, many scholars choose to etymologize common terms.

  • The OED characterizes Welsh rarebit as "an etymologizing alteration of Welsh rabbit," pointing out the lack of independent evidence for non-Welsh rarebit.

    Academic text (2006)

  • In her linguistics class, the professor asked students to etymologize the word 'university' and share its roots.

How Thorough

research
∞ 3.4
to trace
455 3.3
to etymologize
  • Specialized
9.9
to explain
∞ 1.0
to mention
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

etymologize infinitive
etymologized past
etymologized past participle
etymologizing present participle
etymologizes third person singular

Morphology

etymologize = etymology (transparent) = etymology + ize

Formed by adding the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize' to 'etymology', so the meaning 'to investigate or explain word origins' is directly derived.

Etymology

The word etymologize comes from the Greek root etymon, meaning 'true meaning', plus the ending -ize, meaning 'to make or do', as in organize. So, to etymologize is to dig into a word's history to find its 'true meaning'.