philology

[ fi-lol-uh-jee ]
See synonyms for: philologyphilologerphilologicalphilologist on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the study of literary texts and of written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.

  2. (especially in older use) linguistics, especially historical and comparative linguistics.

  1. Obsolete. the love of learning and literature.

Origin of philology

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English philologie, Latin philologia, from Greek philología “love of learning and literature,” equivalent to philólog(os) “literary, studious, argumentative” + -ia -y3; see philo-, -logy

Other words from philology

  • phil·o·log·i·cal [fil-uh-loj-i-kuhl], /ˌfɪl əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl/, phil·o·log·ic, adjective
  • phil·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • phi·lol·o·gist, phi·lol·o·ger, noun
  • non·phil·o·log·ic, adjective
  • non·phil·o·log·i·cal, adjective
  • un·phil·o·log·ic, adjective
  • un·phil·o·log·i·cal, adjective

Words Nearby philology

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use philology in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for philology

philology

/ (fɪˈlɒlədʒɪ) /


noun
  1. comparative and historical linguistics

  2. the scientific analysis of written records and literary texts

  1. (no longer in scholarly use) the study of literature in general

Origin of philology

1
C17: from Latin philologia, from Greek: love of language

Derived forms of philology

  • philological (ˌfɪləˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjective
  • philologically, adverb
  • philologist or rare philologer, noun

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