the study of the historical development of a language or the comparison of different languages, esp based on the analysis of texts; historical linguistics and/or comparative linguistics
the study of ancient texts
the study of texts as a field of study that sheds light on cultural history
dated the study of literature
philologian /-ʹlohji·ən/ noun
philological /-ʹlojikl/ adj
philologically /-ʹlojikli/ adv
philologist noun
[French philologie via Latin from Greek philologia love of learning and literature, ultimately from philo- + logos word, speech]