The study of the development of words over time. Some researchers use supposed etymological relationships to "prove" how societies developed or reveal the"real" meanings of words. Since words are used to communicate ideas, the original meanings of words may or may not have any value in determining why they were used in a text without knowing the popular meaning of the word at the time they were written. Although words may appear to have common roots or pronunciation, words from different areas that have such common relationships only imply an actual source relationship. Without evidence to support the use of borrowed words and meanings, it is only coincidence.