When they set out to create what would become the Oxford English Dictionary, the Philological Society of London had an ambitious goal: provide the definition and etymology of every word in the English language. Published in 1928, the first ten-volume edition covered more than four hundred thousand words and phrases, making it the most thorough dictionary of its time. Not only did it tell readers what words meant, but it also traced their history. Because language evolves, the dictionary has been updated over the years to account for new words or changing meanings; in March 2014, for example, the words bestie and beat boxer were added.

Question

Select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that etymology means the history of a word. There may be more than one correct choice.

Answer 1

The text that best helps you understand that etymology means the history of a word includes:

1. "Not only did it tell readers what words meant, but it also traced their history."
2. "the dictionary has been updated over the years to account for new words or changing meanings."

Both selections convey the idea of understanding the historical development and changes in meaning of words, which is central to the concept of etymology.