How do I research the history of a word?

Question

I have to research the history of a word whose meaning or form has changed over time, and I don't know where to start.

Answer 1

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php

Answer 2

The OED is a good place to start. That is the Old English Dictionary. It has the history of the words and how they have changed over the years.

What is the word? Maybe you can get some additional help on Answers.

Answer 3

I'm not sure whether you're looking for an example of a word that has changed over time, but if you are, here's one. The word RUDE. At one time it meant unfinished or rustic as in the poem
" By the rude bridge that spans the flood, their flags to April's breeze unfurled. Where once the embattled farmers stood, and fired the shot heard round the world "
The bridge was unplaned and unpainted, rustic. Also, notice the word flood meaning river back in the seventeen hundreds.
Another example of rude is in the song" The old oaken bucket" It ends" and e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well. The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket, the moss covered bucket that hung in the well."

Answer 4

http://word-detective.com/ is a good place to start. Look through the 'old issues' and it's got a listing of the words he's reviewed. Really neat articles posted here. Some good stuff. Also, go to google and type in 'origin of word ' and that should pull up some good stuff for you.

Answer 5

You are looking for the "etymology" of the word. Try googling the word along with the word etymology. Also try this web site: http://www.etymonline.com/

Answer 6

look it up in the dictionary its etymology is listed in latin and greek roots

Answer 7

start with encyclopedia.......and then with the best search engines..yahoo and google...it will get u somewhere....good luck

Answer 8

www.wordorigins.org