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The standard logic used by such people as the knights of the round table. It's sound logic that can only be understood by men of science.

E.g. You want to test if a woman is a witch. You burn witches, but you also burn wood. This means witches burn because they are made of wood. Wood also floats in water, just like a duck. So therefore, if she weighs the same as a duck, then she is made out of wood, and is therefore a witch. Now you must weigh her on a set of large scales with a duck, and if they weigh the same, she is guilty of being a witch.
Well, Bernard, that is some Monty Pythonesque application of the principles of logic and etymology right there!
by PetersonE1 February 16, 2017
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etymology

I am surprised that this word is not here yet....now it is.

Etymology is the study of the origins of words. Some words have been derived from other languages, possibly in a changed form (the source words are called etymons). Through old texts and comparisons with other languages, etymologists try to reconstruct the history of words — when they entered a language, from what source, and how their form and meaning changed.

A word often misused and mispronounced 'entymology' which is the study of insects!
Etymology in action:

"The etymologist spent hours describing the origin of the word "nice" to the students. Unfortunately no one understood what he was talking about and were all in a deep slumber after 10 minutes."

"The dean spent weeks trying to track down the entymologist to give a lecture on the derivation of the word 'aunt.' When the entymologist finally arrived discussing the workings of one of the most interesting insects on Earth, the dean was promptly fired for being a fraud."
by psiscott April 27, 2006
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etymologist

An etymologist is a person who studies etymology.

Etymology is an account of the history of a particular word or element of a word.

Through old texts and comparisons with other languages, etymologists try to reconstruct the history of words — when they entered a language, from what source, and how their form and meaning changed.

An Etymologist is different then a philologist, one who studies linguistics and etymology.

Beware, those who are nescient often misuse and mispronounce'entymology' which is actually the study of insects!

(et-uh-mol-uh-jist)
If you want to learn the origin of the word nescient, then you should consult an etymologist!

Denise: If we had resources available to us, we could hire an etymologist to do our homework!
Kenny: Let's just log onto youtube and watch HotForWords...
Denise: Isn't she a philologist?
by g-diggity April 19, 2008
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Etymology

The study of the origin of words.

Not to be confused with "entomology", the study of bugs. "Entymology" is not a word, despite what the other definition says.
The etymologist pointed out that his profession could not be entomology because "entomology" comes from the Ancient Greek word "entomos", meaning "cut", whereas "etymology" came from the Ancient Greek word "etúmos", meaning "true"
by etymologynerd June 2, 2019
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etymology

Something absolutely useless that no one wants to know
Nathan: F**k etymology
by notkishang November 21, 2023
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Etymology

Etymology

├─ Etymology | ἐτυμολογία

│ └─ Word Origin

│ ├─ Greek Root

│ │ ├─ etymon true sense, original meaning

│ │ └─ logos word, study

│ ├─ Indo-European Root

│ │ └─ *wed- to speak, true word

│ │ ├─ Proto-Hellenic

│ │ └─ Other Cognates e.g., Latin verum, Sanskrit satya

│ └─ Evolution

│ ├─ Ancient Greek ἐτυμολογία: study of true meanings

│ ├─ Latin etymologia: borrowed from Greek

│ ├─ Middle French etimologie: 14th c. usage

│ └─ Modern English etymology: study of word origins

└─ Philology | φιλoλογία

└─ Semantics

├─ Primary Meaning

│ ├─ Study of Word Origins historical linguistics

│ └─ True Sense Analysis semantic roots

├─ Historical Usage

│ ├─ Classical Greek

│ │ └─ Texts e.g., Plato: word origins in Cratylus

│ ├─ Renaissance

│ │ └─ Scholarly Works e.g., lexicography

│ └─ Modern Period

│ └─ Linguistic Studies e.g., Oxford English Dictionary

└─ Cultural Context

├─ Academic Discipline historical and comparative linguistics

└─ Modern Usage e.g., etymological dictionaries, linguistic research
Etymology philologia of etymology please
by Endymuse October 4, 2025
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Etymology

I mean you could Google it right now and I know for a fact SOMEONE figured out the riddle. I mean, it's clear that you are pretending not to know what my actual name is and you want me to change it because it would constitute "Lifting a finger." You're being an idiot. Demi-God in Latin. Archangel. German for famed in war. Hebrew for warrior lion. It isn't that hard.
Hym "I mean, you could Google the names that correspond with the Etymology. And then you are going to find that one of the words doesn't match the spelling of anyone with that name and you going to think 'Wait a minute! HIM isn't actually spelled with a "Y"!' And then you'll have me. But you are clearly stalling for more time. It doesn't matter how much time you try to spend doing whatever you're doing. Just stop trying to get the better of me. You shouldn't have done it in the first place. And now you are sitting there blubbering at me 'we're not retarded! Waah! ☹️' with your little pouty-face emoji and you have to consider that I MYSELF am just sitting here thinking 'Wow... This is fucking sad bro...' And then I have to sit here and wait for you to get over yourselves so I can right the wrong that he being inflicted on me."
by Hym Iam December 9, 2025
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