middle french ''philologie'' sense 'love literature' adjective ''phil logos'' meant 'fond discussion argument talkative' hellenistic greek also implying excessive sophistic preference argument love true wisdom ''phil sophos'' allegory literary erudition ''philologia'' appears fifth century postclassical literature martianus capella ''de nuptiis philologiae et mercurii'' idea revived late medieval literature chaucer lydgate meaning love learning literature narrowed study historical development languages historical linguistics th century usage term due
Humanities Languages and literature Linguistics Philology