glottochronology

UK/ˌɡlɒtəʊkɹəˈnɒlədʒi/US/ˌɡlɑːtoʊkɹəˈnɑːləd͡ʒi/

noun

The method or study in estimating the time at which a related language diverged from its common ancestor.

OriginEnglish chronology ← Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) ← Proto-Hellenic *lógos →
Scrabble 26
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Meanings

nounglottochronology (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe method or study in estimating the time at which a related language diverged from its common ancestor.

Origin

  1. Englishglotto-
  2. Ancient Greekχρόνος (khrónos)
  3. Englishchrono-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*leǵ-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*lóǵos
  6. Proto-Hellenic*lógos
  7. Ancient Greekλόγος (lógos)
  8. Englishchronology
  9. Englishglottochronology

From glotto- + chronology.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan glotocronologia
  • glotocronologiathe study of languages to determine when they diverged from being the same language
Portuguese glotocronologia
  • glotocronologiathe study of languages to determine when they diverged from being the same language
Russian глоттохронология
  • глоттохронология (glottoxronologija)the study of languages to determine when they diverged from being the same language
Spanish glotocronología
  • glotocronologíathe study of languages to determine when they diverged from being the same language
Tagalog paladilataknaan
  • paladilataknaanthe study of languages to determine when they diverged from being the same language
Cite this entry
APA

glottochronology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glottochronology

MLA

“glottochronology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glottochronology. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “glottochronology,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/glottochronology.

Source: glottochronology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.