The study of the origin and history of a word. It comes to us through Latin, with the Greek origin of (e´tymon “original form” + logia “study of”). Etymology is, in a way, similar to archeology; since they both depend on existing evidence in order to explain a current form. Each language has its complex history where the origin is broken down and changed through time. For instance, English went through Old, Middle and Modern eras reaching its contemporary form.