etymologist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 1934, Allen Walker Read, an etymologist and lexicographer, laid out the history of the word that, then, had “the deepest stigma of any in the language.”

From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2021

The word came into English as “empechen” by way of the Old French word empechier, meaning to prevent or to hinder, according to the British etymologist Michael Quinion.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 18, 2019

Others, such as etymologist and author Michael Quinion, have found references dating back to 1903.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 31, 2015

It’s often impossible to definitively determine a phrase’s linguistic birthplace, but based on the digging of etymologist Barry Popik, the phrase seems to have originated in the graffiti community of Oakland, California.

From Slate

But our etymologist will readily perceive this to be a mere abbreviation, and that they must originally have been known as kittens.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 13, No. 372, May 30, 1829 by Various