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.

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

I asked the Journal’s resident etymologist, columnist Ben Zimmer, about the earliest use of the term “echo chamber” in its modern sense.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2016

I’m no etymologist; I don’t know when that exclamation point became a question mark and was wrapped in sarcasm.

From New York Times • Oct. 1, 2012

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

In his section on Derivatives Robertson has some matter, as to which the modern etymologist may form his own conclusions.

From Schools, School-Books and Schoolmasters by Hazlitt, W. Carew