Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Linguistics \Lin*guis"tics\ (-t[i^]ks), n. [Cf. F.
   linguistique.]
   The science of languages, or of the origin, signification,
   and application of words; glossology.

Source : WordNet®

linguistics
     n 1: the scientific study of language
     2: the humanistic study of language and literature [syn: {philology}]