"M" Word Origins

marten

Old French

From Old French martrine ("marten fur"), ultimately from a Germanic word for the animal.

Martha

Ancient Greek

* From Latin Martha, from Ancient Greek Μάρθα (Mártha), from Aramaic מָרְתָא (mārtā, “mistress”), feminine of מרא (mārā). Doublet of Marfa. * (humidity chamber): From the use of Martha Stewart-branded storage closets in the construction of early units.

Marthe

French

Borrowed from French Marthe and Norwegian Marthe.

martial

Latin

From Latin martialis, "of Mars," the Roman god of war — the same root that gives us the planet Mars.

Martian

Latin

From Latin Martius, "of Mars," the Roman god of war after whom the red planet was named.

martin

Middle French · 300

From Middle French martin, likely linked to the given name Martin, itself honoring a fourth-century soldier-saint.

Martina

Latin

Usually interpreted as the feminine form of the saints' name Martin, though there was an identical Roman name, likewise derived from Latin Martinus.

Martinelli

Italian

Borrowed from Italian Martinelli.

martinet

Origin

After the example of 17th-century French army officer Jean Martinet.

Martinez

Spanish

From Spanish "Martín" plus the patronymic suffix "-ez," meaning "son of Martin."

martini

Origin

The exact origin is disputed, but it likely comes from the Martini & Rossi vermouth brand or an earlier cocktail called the Martinez.

Martinique

Origin

Named by Christopher Columbus after Saint Martin of Tours. The name is sometimes suggested to be a modification of a native Ta-Arawak (Taino or Kalinago) name Madinina (“island of flowers”) or Matinino (“island of women”).

Marty

Origin

From Martin + -y.

martyr

Greek

From Greek martys, meaning "witness" — someone who bears witness to their faith through suffering or death.

martyrdom

Old English

From Old English martyrdom, built from "martyr" plus the suffix "-dom," which denotes a state or condition.

martyrize

Origin

From martyr + -ize.

maru

Japanese

From Japanese maru, meaning "circle," traditionally used as a suffix in ship names.

Maruti

Hindi

From the Hindi word maruti, also the name of a Hindu wind deity, adopted as the manufacturer's brand name.

Maruyama

Japanese

Borrowed from Japanese 丸山 (Maruyama).

marv

Origin

A clipped, informal form of "marvellous."

marvel

Latin

From Old French merveille ("a wonder"), from Latin mirabilia, "wonderful things" — the same root as "miracle" and "admire."

marvellous

Old French

From Old French merveillus, from merveille ("a wonder") — the same root as "marvel."

marvellously

Origin

From Middle English merveilously; equivalent to marvellous + -ly.

marvelous

Old French

From Old French merveillus, from merveille ("a wonder") — the same root as "marvel."

Marvin

Welsh

From the Welsh name Merfyn, likely built from mer ("marrow") and myn ("eminent").

Marwan

Arabic

Borrowed directly from Arabic.

Marx

German

A German surname, borrowed into English as-is.

Marxism

Origin

From the surname Marx plus the suffix "-ism", meaning "the doctrine of."

Marxist

Origin

From Marx plus the suffix "-ist", meaning "a follower of."

Mary

Latin

Traced back through Old French and Latin to Aramaic and Hebrew Miryam, a name of uncertain original meaning; a doublet of Miriam and Maria.

Maryam

Arabic

Borrowed from Arabic and Persian; a doublet of Mary and Miriam.

Maryann

Origin

A blend of the names Mary and Ann.

Maryland

Origin

Named after Henrietta Maria of France, wife of England's King Charles I.

marzipan

German

Borrowed via German and Italian from Arabic mardaban, originally the name of a spice box, itself named after the Burmese port of Martaban.

mas

Latin

From Occitan mas, from Latin mansum, "a dwelling" — a doublet of the English word manse.

masa

Spanish

Ultimately from Spanish, describing prepared corn dough; as a Japanese name it is borrowed from separate characters read "masa."

Masahiro

Japanese

Borrowed from Japanese.

masala

Arabic

Borrowed from Hindustani, ultimately from Persian and Arabic words meaning "ingredients" or "affairs."

Masao

Japanese

Borrowed from Japanese.

Masaru

Japanese

From Japanese, written with any of several characters meaning "excel," "win," or "wise."

masc

Origin

Clipping of masculine.

mascara

Italian

From Italian maschera, "mask."

mascot

French

From French mascotte, "charm" or "lucky object," ultimately from an Occitan word for "witch."

masculine

Latin

From Old French masculin, from Latin masculinus, from masculus, "male."

masculinity

French

From French masculinité, built from masculine plus the suffix "-ity."

mase

Origin

A back-formed verb from the noun maser, on the model of "lase" from "laser."

Maserati

Italian

From the Italian surname Maserati, the family who founded the company.

mash

Old English

From Old English mǣsc, related to German Maische and the English word "mix."