etymology

1. The scientific study of the origin and evolution of a word's semantic meaning across time, including its constituent morphemes and phonemes. (uncountable) · Holonyms: historical linguistics < linguistics
2. The entire catalogue of meanings that a word, morpheme, or sign has carried throughout its history. (countable) · Although written the same, the words lead (the metal) and lead (the verb) have totally different etymologies.
3. An account of the origin and historical development of a word as presented in a dictionary or the like. (countable)
4. The direct origin of a name, as in who someone was named after. (countable)

Plural etymologies