'philologist' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'philologia,' where 'philo-' meant 'love' and 'logos' meant 'word or speech.'

'philologia' transformed into the Latin word 'philologia,' and eventually became the modern English word 'philologist' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'love of learning and literature,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who studies language in written historical sources.'