Etymological Fallacy - Examples

Examples

Not every change in meaning provokes an etymological fallacy; but such changes are frequently the basis of inaccurate arguments.

• From the fact that logos is Greek for "word", Stuart Chase concluded in his book The Tyranny of Words that logic was mere manipulation of words.
• Some dictionaries of old languages do not distinguish glosses (meanings) from etymologies, as when Old English geþofta is defined as "one who sits on the same rowing bench; companion". Here the only attested meaning is the second one, while the first is simply the word's etymology.
• The word gyp "cheat" has been described as offensive because it is probably derived from Gypsy.
• The word apologize comes from the Greek word ἀπολογία (apologia) which originally only meant "a speech in defence". Later on it began to carry the sense of expressing remorse or "saying sorry" over something that one may feel regret for, as well as to explain or defend, in some contexts. The word began to be used eventually as only expressing regret mainly because words of remorse would often accompany explanations, or at least some defense or justification along with it. But some feel today that a "full apology", in keeping with the word's original etymology, should always include explanations, while others feel that an apology should only be an expression of remorse.
• Phrases such as to grow smaller or to climb down have been criticised for being incoherent, based on the "true" meanings of grow and climb.