What is the purpose of etymology?

to explain the meaning of a word
to explain the meaning of a word

to tell how a word has changed or evolved
to tell how a word has changed or evolved

to understand how sounds are produced in a language
to understand how sounds are produced in a language

to learn how to spell a word correctly

1 answer

The purpose of etymology primarily is to tell how a word has changed or evolved. Etymology studies the origin of words and how their meanings and forms have developed over time, tracing their history through different languages and cultures. While understanding the meaning of a word is important, etymology specifically focuses on the historical and linguistic changes associated with a word.