etymological
Concerning word origins
Etymological means relating to the origins and historical development of words.
An etymological dictionary traces how words evolved from earlier forms in other languages.
The etymological root of a word is its original source: the etymological root of "etymology" itself is Greek, from words meaning "true sense." Etymologically speaking, "salary" comes from the Latin word for salt.
Imported vocabulary item
- calqueBorrowed phrase translated literally
- loanBorrowed money repaid later
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- transliterationCross-script phonetic spelling
importation · naturalization · assimilation · anglicism · hybrid · borrowing · substrate · cognate
Study of structural forms
- phonologyScience of language sounds
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- lexicographyCompiling word reference books
- cognateWord sharing etymological origin
reflex · ablaut · umlaut · assimilation · dissimilation · metathesis · syncope · reconstruction
Binding morphemes to stems
- prefixRoot-modifying front element
- suffixWord-ending addition
- infixAffix within a word
- compoundingElements merging progressively
blending · clipping · back-formation · conversion · acronym · portmanteau · reduction · word-formation
Starting point or source
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- changeTo make different
- shiftMovement or work period
transformation · progression · divergence · archaism · obsolescence · amelioration · pejoration · broadening
loanword
Imported vocabulary item
- calqueBorrowed phrase translated literally
- loanBorrowed money repaid later
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
transliteration · importation · naturalization · assimilation · anglicism · hybrid · borrowing · substrate · cognate · false friend
morphology
Study of structural forms
- phonologyScience of language sounds
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- lexicographyCompiling word reference books
cognate · reflex · ablaut · umlaut · assimilation · dissimilation · metathesis · syncope · reconstruction · doublet
affixation
Binding morphemes to stems
compounding · blending · clipping · back-formation · conversion · acronym · portmanteau · reduction · word-formation · root
origin
Starting point or source
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- changeTo make different
shift · transformation · progression · divergence · archaism · obsolescence · amelioration · pejoration · broadening · narrowing
etymologicalsynchronic
Existing at one time
contemporary · current · modern · present-day · colloquial
etymologicalsynchronic
Existing at one time
structural · descriptive · phonological · syntactic · semantic