'analogy' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'analogia', which came from Greek 'analogia', where 'ana-' meant 'up, according to' and 'logos' meant 'ratio, word, reasoning'.

'analogia' was adopted into Middle English as 'analogie', and eventually became the modern English word 'analogy'.

Initially, it meant 'proportion' or 'correspondence', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a comparison between two things for explanation or clarification'.