etymology

n.; pl. Etymologies [ L.etymologia, Gr. 'etymologi`a; 'e`tymon etymon + lo`gos discourse, description: cf. F. étymologie. See Etymon, and -logy. ] 1. That branch of philological science which treats of the history of words, tracing out their origin, primitive significance, and changes of form and meaning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That part of grammar which relates to the changes in the form of the words in a language; inflection. [ 1913 Webster ]