SOURCE 01supportshistorical dictionary
Etymon — Definition, Word History, and First Known Use
Records both etyma and etymons.
Headword plural line- AUTHOR / EDITOR
- Merriam-Webster Editors
- YEAR
- 2026
- PUBLISHER
- Merriam-Webster
PERMANENT DISPUTE RECORD
ALL DISPUTES ↗CLAIM / COUNTERCLAIM / LIMITRECORD 195
DISPUTE
RECORD.
One scholarly question. Every attached source. The present editorial state, without pretending the last word has been written.
resolvedestablished
Are etyma and etymons both permitted plurals?
Yes. Merriam-Webster records etyma and etymons, with etyma preserving the learned Greek-style plural.
WORD UNDER REVIEWDISPUTE 195
etymon
/ˈe-tə-ˌmän/ · noun
A technical English noun for an earlier source form, a foreign donor, or a base used in composition or derivation.
01
DIRECT CLAIM EVIDENCE
1 SOURCES WITH A STANCE
A citation is not a vote. Each record says whether the work supports, challenges, contradicts, or contextualizes the position—and identifies the exact locus used.
02 / EDITORIAL STATE
THE CURRENT RECORD IS RESOLVED.
- CONFIDENCE
- established
- STATUS
- resolved
- LEGACY SOURCE SUMMARY
- Current lexicography records both forms.
Both variants remain visible as cited relatives.