What branch of linguistics studies the meaning of words and their historical development?

The study of the meaning of words and their historical development falls under semantics. Semantics focuses on understanding how meaning is constructed, interpreted, and related to the context in which words are used. It encompasses the study of individual words, phrases, and sentences, analyzing how they convey meaning and how that meaning may change over time, connecting the present usage of words to their historical origins and shifts in meaning throughout linguistic evolution. This discipline is essential for understanding not just the definitions of words, but also how cultural and social factors influence language and its evolution.