rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -logia
Greek

-logia

speaking about; an account or study of

Forms

  • -logia
  • -logy — The ending shortened in English.
  • -ology — The linking o of many Greek compounds became associated with the ending.

Origin

Built in Greek from the family of logos, “word, account, reasoning.”

Note

The familiar “study of” meaning grew from the broader idea of speaking or giving an account of something.

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A compact word-history investigation: an old manuscript fragment bearing “hūs” and a modern dictionary slip bearing “house” are connected by a clear left-to-right arrow.
noun

etymology

et-ih-MAH-luh-jee/ˌetɪˈmɑːlədʒi/

The historical origin and development of words.

Etymology
etymoGreektrue sense, original meaning
+logyGreekspeaking about; an account or study of

The pieces mean “study of the true sense.” An inquiry into a word’s original meaning broadened into an account of its origin and historical development.

Full entry

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