English
ethology
Ethology comes from Latin ēthologia ‘the art of depicting or imitating character’, and goes back to Ancient Greek ἦθος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἦθοςêthos‘character, especially moral character’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἠθολόγοςēthológos‘painting character by mimic gestures’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἠθολογίαēthología‘painting of character, especially by mimic gestures’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEēthologia‘the art of depicting or imitating character’
- Englishtodayethology
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἦθοςêthos‘character, especially moral character’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἠθολόγοςēthológos‘painting character by mimic gestures’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἠθολογίαēthología‘painting of character, especially by mimic gestures’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEēthologia‘the art of depicting or imitating character’
- Englishtodayethology
Linked words
through Ancient Greek ἦθος ‘character, especially moral character’
Today it means
noun The scientific study of animalian behavior, especially that of nonhuman animals.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἦθος / ethology