methodology English · revision 39478

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1800, Medical and Physical Journal|origins=grc μέθοδος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˌmɛθ.əˈdɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˌmɛθ.əˈdɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, /ˌmɛθ.ɪˈdɑ.lɪ.d͡ʒi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|method|-ology]],^(OED 2026)^(Klein 1966) probably after [[la-new|methodologia]], used in 1727 by J. F. Buddeus.^(OED 2026)^(Webster's Third 1961)^(MWU 2024) The Oxford Dictionary of English and the Shorter Oxford derive it from that word or from [[fr|méthodologie]],^(ODE 2010)^(SOED 2002) which the OED records only from 1829.^(OED 2026) The Latin compound is made of [[m|la|methodus|t=method]], from [[grc|μέθοδος|tr=méthodos]], and [[m|la|-logia]], from [[m|grc|-λογία|tr=-logía]].^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The branch of knowledge that deals with method in general or with the methods of a particular discipline: 1800, in the ''Medical and Physical Journal''.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline gives the same year and defines the early sense as the branch of logic that shows how abstract principles are applied to produce knowledge.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the theory of method the word passed to the methods themselves: by the middle of the 19th century it could mean a body of methods used in a field of study or activity.^(SOED 2002) The Historical Thesaurus records it in biological classification from 1835 and in the general sense of a manner of acting from 1932.^(HTOED) Etymonline observes that it is often used simply as a longer word for ''method''.^(Etymonline) It also once meant a treatise on method, a use the OED marks as archaic.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1727 – New Latin ''methodologia'' (Buddeus).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1800 – the branch of knowledge dealing with method.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1829 – French ''méthodologie''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1835 – in biology, a system of classification.^(HTOED)

+ * mid 19th century – a body of methods used in a field.^(SOED 2002)

+ * 1932 – a way of doing something.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A system of methods, rules and [[procedure|alt=procedures]] used in a particular discipline or inquiry.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # The study or theoretical analysis of such methods.^(AHD 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (philosophy) The branch of [[logic]] or philosophy concerned with the general principles of [[method]] and procedure.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[methodological]]

+ * [[methodologically]]

+ * [[methodologist]]

+ * [[ethnomethodology]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[method]]

+ * [[methodical]]

+ * [[-ology]]

+ * [[epistemology]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD's usage note accepts ''methodology'' for the analysis of the methods suited to a field and for the body of methods and principles of a discipline, but objects to its growing use as a pretentious substitute for ''method''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline) Wiktionary likewise notes that using it simply for "methods" or "technique" is criticized as inaccurate and pretentious.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}