Word Origin and History for etymology Expand n. late 14c., ethimolegia facts of the origin and development of a word, from Old French et(h)imologie (14c., Modern French Ã©tymologie), from Latin etymologia, from Greek etymologia, properly study of the true sense (of a word), from etymon true sense (neuter of etymos true, real, actual, related to eteos true) + -logia study of, a speaking of (see -logy).