Etymological Dictionary (Noun)
Meaning
A dictionary giving the historical origins of each word.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- An etymological dictionary provides in-depth information about how words evolved over time and their relationships to other languages.
- I turned to the etymological dictionary to learn the origins and development of the word 'quarantine' during my pandemic research project.
- An etymological dictionary gives users a glimpse into the past, revealing how words have been shaped by different cultures and historical events.
- In order to better understand antique texts, researchers use an etymological dictionary to identify and interpret archaic vocabulary.
- Linguists rely on comprehensive etymological dictionaries to analyze and reconstruct the histories of languages and dialects.