Which phrase defines etymology? (1 point)
• the spelling of a word
• the part of speech of a word
• the pronunciation of a word
• the history of a word
the history of a word
The correct answer is:
• the history of a word.
The phrase that defines etymology is "the history of a word." Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words, including their historical and linguistic roots and how they have evolved over time. To determine the correct answer to this multiple-choice question, you could have eliminated the other options by considering their definitions:
- The spelling of a word refers to the arrangement of its letters and does not encompass the meaning or origin of the word.
- The part of speech of a word identifies its grammatical function (noun, verb, adjective, etc.), which is distinct from its historical background.
- The pronunciation of a word relates to how it is spoken, but it does not provide information about where the word came from.