Etymon (Noun)
Meaning
A simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The linguist proposed a Proto-Indo-European etymon as the ancestor of words for "father" in multiple languages, including Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit.
- Researchers attempted to reconstruct the etymon of the English word "bear" and its Germanic cognates.
- Historical linguists believe that the word "papa" is an etymon that spread through cultural contact, becoming the word for "father" in multiple languages.
- Comparative analysis suggested that the words for "bread" in different languages derived from a single etymon, a hypothetical ancestral word in the proto-language.
- Philologists proposed a series of sound changes to explain how a hypothetical etymon gave rise to similar but distinct words in Latin and ancient Greek.