lexicology

noun

Etymology: From Ancient Greek λεξικός (lexikós, “of words”), from λέξις (léxis, “a saying, speech, word”), from λέγειν (légein, “to speak”). By surface analysis, lexico- + -logy.

1. The part of linguistics that studies words, their nature and meaning, words' elements, relations between words including semantic relations, words groups and the whole lexicon.

   “The fifth is devoted to doctrine; the sixth and seventh to remarks on syntax and lexicology respectively.”

2. A specific theory concerning the lexicon.