\Phi*lol"o*gy\, n. [L. philologia love of learning,
interpretation, philology, Gr. ?: cf. F. philologie. See
{Philologer}.]
1. Criticism; grammatical learning. [R.] --Johnson.
2. The study of language, especially in a philosophical
   manner and as a science; the investigation of the laws of
   human speech, the relation of different tongues to one
   another, and historical development of languages;
   linguistic science.
Note: Philology comprehends a knowledge of the etymology, or
      origin and combination of words; grammar, the
      construction of sentences, or use of words in language;
      criticism, the interpretation of authors, the
      affinities of different languages, and whatever relates
      to the history or present state of languages. It
      sometimes includes rhetoric, poetry, history, and
      antiquities.
3. A treatise on the science of language.