1. The origin or earliest known form of a word, or the word from which another word is derived.
Usage: Linguistics term; commonly used in etymology and historical language study.

Examples

• The etymon of the English word 'mother' is the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to measure' or 'to mother.'
• Linguists trace the etymon of 'democracy' back to ancient Greek words meaning 'people' and 'rule.'
• Understanding the etymon of a word can help you remember its meaning and spelling.
• The etymon of 'telephone' combines Greek roots for 'distant' and 'sound.'
• Many English etymons come from Latin and Greek sources.