etymon Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes
    root.

WordNet

Et"y*mon noun
Etymology
L., fr. Gr. the true literal sense of a word according to its derivation, an etymon, fr. true, real, prob, akin to Skr. sotya, E. sooth. See Sooth.
Wordforms
plural E Etymons Gr Etyma
Definitions
  1. 1. An original form; primitive word; root.
  2. Original or fundamental signification. R.
    Given as the etymon or genuine sense of the word. Coleridge.

Webster 1913