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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From "gloss" (shine) plus the adjective ending "-y."

From Latin horrendus, "to be dreaded" — a form of the verb horreo, "to shudder or tremble".

From Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō, "to announce or threaten."

From fire and power.

From Old French fol hardi, literally "foolishly bold."

From Middle English flameng, tracing back through Old Norse and Middle Dutch forms tied to Flanders, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "flowing water" plus a suffix meaning "belonging to."

From psycho- + -tropic ("turning toward"), ultimately from Greek tropē ("a turning").

From aero- ("air") plus dynamic, tracing back to Greek ἀήρ and δύναμις ("power").

From Latin credibilis, "worthy of belief", from credere, "to believe" — the same root behind "credit" and "credence".

Formed from "brother" plus the suffix "-hood", which turns a word into an abstract state or condition — the same pattern as "childhood" or "neighbourhood".

From Old French grant merci ("great thanks").

From Old French personage, built from "person" plus the suffix "-age."

From Old Norse lómr, likely imitating the bird's distinctive cry.

Borrowed from Hindi लाट (lāṭ, “pillar; minaret; staff, club”), लाठ (lāṭh, “long staff; cudgel”), etc.

Likely top + -s (diminutive).

From check + list.

From "later" (as in "see you later") plus an informal -s ending, similar to "bye-byes".

A compound of pick (in the old sense "to steal, pilfer") and pocket.

From the medieval given name Erwin, from Old English eofor ("boar") plus wine ("friend").

From the verb phrase dug out.

From Old English slincan, meaning "to creep or crawl," related to words like "sleek."

From Latin mentha ("mint") plus the chemical suffix -ol.

From pepper + mint, describing its sharp, peppery bite.

From seize plus the noun ending -ure.