etimist

An etimist is a term used to describe a person who studies the origins and historical development of words, with an emphasis on their original senses and semantic shifts. The term is informal and not widely standardized; in contemporary linguistic writing the more common designation is etymologist. Because etimist appears only occasionally in prose, it is most often found in glossaries, historical texts, or stylistic usage rather than as an official discipline.

Etymology-wise, etimist is formed from etymology plus the agent suffix -ist. Early attestations are sporadic, and the label does not denote a distinct scholarly field. In practice, an etimist would be expected to engage in activities typical of etymologists, such as tracing cognates, reconstructing word histories, and documenting how meanings have changed over time. Some writers use etimist to emphasize a focus on uncovering the 'true' origin or sense of a word, though this distinction is not standard and varies by author.

Because of its informal status, many style guides prefer etymologist or historical linguist when writing for formal or academic audiences. See also etymology, etymologist, historical linguistics, lexicography.