English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The origins of English words

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.

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Literally "figure" plus "head," from the carved figures placed at the head (bow) of sailing ships.

From "father" plus the suffix "-hood", which forms nouns describing a state or condition.

Borrowed from Hebrew זֹהַר (“splendor, radiance”).

From expire + the noun ending -y.

The given name comes from Giuseppe Verdi's 1871 opera "Aida"; the fabric sense also takes its name from the opera.

Borrowed from Russian bolʹševík, from bolʹšinstvó meaning "majority."

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man English man English -s English mans From man + -s (hypocoristic suffix).

Coined in 1905 by biologist William Bateson, from Greek génesis ("origin").

From sexual + -ly.

From Middle English listnynge, lustninde, from Old English hlysnende, equivalent to listen + -ing.

From Ottoman Turkish paşa, possibly derived from Persian padshah ("king") or from Turkish words for "head" and "master."

From camp + site.

From encamp ("to set up a temporary camp") plus the noun suffix -ment.

Inherited from Middle English crakynge.

A compound of "birth" and "right" — a right owed to someone from birth.

From Middle English bain/bayn, borrowed from Old Norse beinn, meaning "straight" or "favourable."

From Middle English couplynge, formed from couple plus the suffix -ing.

From Latin Caecilia, feminine form of the Roman family name Caecilius, possibly from caecus ("blind"); popularized by the third-century martyr Saint Cecilia.

A shortened form of "intercommunicator."

Japanese · 1901

Coined in 1901 by the Japanese chemist Jokichi Takamine from adrenal + -ine.

From Greek epi- ("upon") + nephrós ("kidney") + the chemical suffix -ine — literally "upon the kidney," describing where the adrenal glands sit.

A compound of drug and store, describing a store built around selling medicines.

From "national" plus the agent-forming suffix "-ist," meaning someone who follows or believes in it.

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