First Known Use: 1612
Dictionary
philology
noun phi·lol·o·gy \fə-ˈlä-lə-jē also fī-\
: the study of language; especially : the study of how languages or words develop
Full Definition of PHILOLOGY
1
: the study of literature and of disciplines relevant to literature or to language as used in literature
2
a : linguistics; especially : historical and comparative linguistics b : the study of human speech especially as the vehicle of literature and as a field of study that sheds light on cultural history
— phil·o·log·i·cal \ˌfi-lə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective
— phil·o·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— phi·lol·o·gist \fə-ˈlä-lə-jist also fī-\ noun
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Origin of PHILOLOGY
French philologie, from Latin philologia love of learning and literature, from Greek, from philologos fond of learning and literature, from phil- + logos word, speech — more at legend
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