[syn: etymologize, etymologise]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\ (-j[imac]z), v. t. [Cf. F.
['e]tymologiser.]
To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive,
as a word. --Camden
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\, v. t.
To search into the origin of words; to deduce words from
their simple roots.
[1913 Webster]
How perilous it is to etymologize at random. --Trench.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
etymologize
v 1: give the etymology or derivation or suggest an etymology
(for a word); "The linguist probably etymologized the words
incorrectly"; "Although he is not trained in this, his
hobby is etymologizing" [syn: etymologize, etymologise]
2: construct the history of words [syn: etymologize,
etymologise]