How does understanding the etymology of Russian words aid in grasping subtle nuances of meaning?

Understanding the etymology, or origin and historical development, of Russian words aids in grasping subtle nuances of meaning by revealing the word's original sense and the semantic shifts it has undergone over time. Russian vocabulary has roots in Old Slavic, Greek, Latin, and other languages. Tracing a word back to its origin illuminates its core meaning and the connotations associated with it. For example, the word 'благодарность' (blagodarnost' - gratitude) is compo....