English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

"A" Word Origins

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

“A” Word Origins

From Persian, ultimately from Arabic ayatu llahi, meaning "sign of God".

From Middle English ay, possibly from Old Norse ei ("ever"), though its exact link to the "yes" sense is debated by scholars.

A spelling variant of Aisha.

Traces back to a Semitic root word simply meaning "eye" — the letter's ancient shape was thought to resemble one.

Combination of hey and yo.

Borrowed from Sanskrit अयोध्या (ayodhyā). Doublet of Ayutthaya and Yodaya.

From Sinhalese ආයුබෝවන් (āyubōwan).

Borrowed from Japanese あゆみ (Ayumi).

From Greek azaleos ("dry"), because the plant was thought to favor dry soil.

Borrowed from Arabic أَزْهَر (ʔazhar, “shining, radiant”). This surname is mostly found in Pakistan.

From Old French *azimut (modern French azimut), from Arabic اَلسُّمُوت pl (as-sumūt, “the directions”).

From Arabic عَزِيز (ʕazīz, “dear”).

From Latin Azrahel, from Ancient Greek Ἀζαραήλ (Azaraḗl), from Biblical Hebrew עֲזַרְאֵל (ʿăzarʾēl), possibly via Aramaic (compare Classical Syriac ܥܲܙܪܵܐܹܝܠ (ʿazrāʾēl)).

From Spanish azteca, from Classical Nahuatl aztecatl, meaning "person from Aztlán," the legendary homeland of the Aztec people.

From Old French azur, from Arabic lazaward ("lapis lazuli"), itself from Persian lajward, the name of a region famous for the blue gemstone.

From a Native American language, likely Tongva Asuksagna.

From a- + -zygous.