morphology

/mɔːˈfɒlədʒi/mawr-FO-luh-jee

/mɔɹˈfɑlədʒi/mawr-FAH-luh-jee

Meaningthe study of form

Common meaning: the study of forms

morphshape, formLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 979 · scan
loga word, saying; reckoning, reasonLiddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), p. 476 · scan
ynoun ending: study, state or act

‘shape, form’ + ‘a word, saying’ → morphology

Journey through time

Neither part’s path through time is traced in our sources yet; each root is shown from its dictionary entry.

morph — Greek μορφή “shape, form” (dictionary form; path not traced)
log — Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) “a word, saying; reckoning, reason” (dictionary form; path not traced)

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Greek μορφή ‘shape, form’ + Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) ‘a word, saying; reckoning, reason’.

Did you know (Analogous, ecology, technology,…): our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), entry λόγος (lógos), p. 476 · dictionary scan

Did you know (Greek morphe, shape,…): our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), entry μορφή, p. 979 · dictionary scan

Roots

λόγος (lógos) Ancient Greek “a word, saying; reckoning, reason”
μορφή Greek “shape, form”

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