* "homo-" meaning "same" or "alike"
* "-onym" meaning "name"
Therefore, "homonym" literally means "same name."
This makes sense, as homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings and origins.
Here's a breakdown of the etymology:
* Ancient Greek "hómos" (ὁμός) meaning "same"
* Ancient Greek "ónoma" (ὄνομα) meaning "name"
The word "homonym" was first used in English in the 16th century, combining these two Greek roots.