etymologize Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb give the etymology or derivation or suggest an etymology (for a word)
    etymologise.
    • The linguist probably etymologized the words incorrectly
    • Although he is not trained in this, his hobby is etymologizing
  2. verb construct the history of words
    etymologise.

WordNet

Et`y*mol"o*gize transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. étymologiser.
Definitions
  1. To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive, as a word. Camden
Et`y*mol"o*gize transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To search into the origin of words; to deduce words from their simple roots.
    How perilous it is to etymologize at random. Trench.

Webster 1913