Webster's English Dictionary

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philology

phi.lol.o.gy \-je-\ n [F philologie, fr. L philologia love of learning and 
   literature, fr]. Gk, fr. philologos fond of learning and literature fr. 
   phil- + logos word, speech - more at LEGEND 1: the study of literature and 
   of relevant disciplines  2a: LINGUISTICS; esp : historical and comparative 
   linguistics  2b: the study of human speech esp. as the vehicle of 
   literature and as a fi eld of study that sheds light on cultural history