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A word family is the base form of a word plus its inflected forms and derived forms made with suffixes and prefixes plus its cognates, i.e. all words that have a common etymological origin, some of which even native speakers don't recognize as being related (e.g. "wrought (iron)" and "work(ed)").
Family of origin. In most cultures of the world, the beginning of family history is set in creation myths. In Works and Days, the ancient Greek poet Hesiod describes the epic destruction of four previous Ages of Man.
Jun 6, 1998 · The word family came into English in the fifteenth century. Its root lies in the Latin word famulus, “servant”. The first meaning in English was close to our modern word “household” — a group of individuals living under one roof that included blood relations and servants.
Sep 27, 2023 · The word “family” has a rich and complex history, with its etymology tracing back to the Latin term “famulus” meaning servant or household. Over time, the concept of family has evolved to encompass not only blood relations but also chosen families and diverse family structures.
Jun 21, 2022 · In both Eastern and Western Armenian, the word for family, ընտանիք (untanik’), comes from the word “տուն“:”house”. The word for domestic, ընտանի (untani), is also rooted in the word for “house,” deviating from an English understanding of the word rooted in ownership.
- Marina Manoukian
Etymology (/ ˌ ɛ t ɪ ˈ m ɒ l ə dʒ i /, ET-im-OL-ə-jee) is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of a word's semantic meaning across time, including its constituent morphemes and phonemes.
The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone.
