The history of a word, tracing its origin and development from its earliest known form to its current form and meaning.
This includes:
* Origin: Where and when did the word first appear?
* Root: What is the word's original meaning?
* Evolution: How has the word's meaning and form changed over time?
* Influences: What other languages or cultures have influenced the word's development?
Essentially, etymology tells the story of a word's journey through time, revealing how it has changed and adapted to fit the needs of language and culture.