etymologizing

Meanings

Noun

• (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase

Verb

• give the etymology or derivation or suggest an etymology (for a word)
  • "Although he is not trained in this, his hobby is etymologizing"
• construct the history of words
• present participle and gerund of etymologize

Synonyms

derivation, deriving, etymologise, etymologize