> Summary: a single deny filter of form '*term=*' does
> not function.
> With following nice .httrackrc:

Sorry, I miss read previously, thought you were talking about a negative
filter not .httrackrc

> max-rate=43210
> deny *term=*
> HTTrack still retrieves things that I think should
> match the deny filter, like:
> www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=-ance

Probably should. I'm thinking the equal is confusing the parser. You might try
deny "*term=*" or deny *term*[=]* or deny *?term*