Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Philology
Phi-lol′o-gy
(fĭ-lŏl′ō̍-jy̆)
, Noun.
[L.
philologia
love of learning, interpretation, philology, Gr. φιλολογία
: cf. F. philologie
. See Philologer
.] 1.
Criticism; grammatical learning.
[R.]
Johnson.
2.
The study of language, especially in a philosophical manner and as a science; the investigation of the laws of human speech, the relation of different tongues to one another, and historical development of languages; linguistic science.
☞ Philology comprehends a knowledge of the etymology, or origin and combination of words; grammar, the construction of sentences, or use of words in language; criticism, the interpretation of authors, the affinities of different languages, and whatever relates to the history or present state of languages. It sometimes includes rhetoric, poetry, history, and antiquities.
3.
A treatise on the science of language.
Webster 1828 Edition
Philology
PHILOL'OGY
,Noun.
1.
Primarily, a love of words, or a desire to know the origin and construction of language. In a more general sense,2.
That branch of literature which comprehends a knowledge of the etymology or origin and combination of words; grammar, the construction of sentences or use of words in language; criticism, the interpretation of authors, the affinities of different languages, and whatever relates to the history or present state of languages. It sometimes includes rhetoric, poetry, history and antiquities.