What is "etymologize"

Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\ (-j[imac]z), v. t. [Cf. F. To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive, as a word.
--Camden

Etymologize \Et`y*mol"o*gize\, v. t. To search into the origin of words; to deduce words from their simple roots.

How perilous it is to etymologize at random.
--Trench.

1530s (transitive); see etymology + -ize. Compare French étymologiser, from Medieval Latin etymologisare. Intransitive sense from 1650s. Related: Etymologized; etymologizing.

alt. (context linguistics ambitransitive English) to find or provide etymology for a word, to find etymon for a given word vb. (context linguistics ambitransitive English) to find or provide etymology for a word, to find etymon for a given word

1. v. give the etymology or derivation or suggest an etymology (for a word); "The linguist probably etymologized the words incorrectly"; "Although he is not trained in this, his hobby is etymologizing" [syn: etymologise]

2. construct the history of words [syn: etymologise]