Etymology

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.

Basic ideas in etymology

• Words may start with a longer, possibly more complicated form which becomes simpler or shorter. For example, lord comes from hlāf weard, meaning "bread guard".
• In contrast to the point above, short words may be lengthened by the fusion of affixes to a word. For example, elucidation (enlightening) comes from e+lucid+ation.
• Longer words may also be formed by compounding. An example is bluebird.
• Slang words may enter the common language. Sometimes, common words become slang.
• Vulgar words may become euphemisms for other words, and sometimes euphemisms become vulgarisms.
• Taboo words may be avoided and lost. They are often replaced by euphemisms or circumlocutions.
• Words may meld together to become portmanteau words, such as smog, a blend of smoke and fog.
• Words may start off as acronyms, like snafu.
• The boundaries between words may move. For example, a napron became an apron.
• Words come from specialist trades (font), different cultures or subcultures, and even works of literature (chortle from Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass). Words may be named after a particular place (toponyms, e.g. china) or after a particular person (eponym, e.g. Achilles' tendon).