'Philology' definitions:

Definition of 'philology'

From: WordNet
noun
The humanistic study of language and literature [syn: linguistics, philology]

Definition of 'Philology'

From: GCIDE
  • Philology \Phi*lol"o*gy\ (f[i^]*l[o^]l"[-o]*j[y^]), n. [L. philologia love of learning, interpretation, philology, Gr. filologi`a: cf. F. philologie. See Philologer.]
  • 1. Criticism; grammatical learning. [R.] --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A treatise on the science of language. [1913 Webster] `