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 play + thing.

From Middle English jumbren, likely a variant of jumpren, related to jump — the sense shifted from "bounce around" to "mix up."

From Medieval Latin insecuritas, built from insecure plus -ity.

From "modern" plus the verb-forming suffix "-ize."

From un- ("not") plus explored, the past participle of explore.

From improper + -ly.

From candid + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From parent + the suffix -hood, which forms nouns describing a state or condition (as in "childhood" or "adulthood").

From Latin decentia, related to decens, "fitting, proper" — the same root as "decent."

From Middle English underfote, from under- + foot.

Formed from "together" plus the suffix "-ness."

From French coïncidence, built from coincide + -ence.

From Latin interventio, from intervenire, "to come between."

From Old French pelegrin, ultimately from Latin peregrinus, "foreigner" — a doublet of the word "peregrine."

From Latin propheticus, from Greek prophētikos, from prophētēs ("prophet").

Formed from "time" (verb) plus the agent suffix "-er".

A blend of "chicken" (coward) and "shit," used as a coarse intensifier since at least the mid-20th century, originally in US military slang.

From Old French galoper, from a Frankish phrase meaning "to run well."

From "beach" plus "-ed."

From French recouper, literally "to cut back."

From elector plus the suffix -ate, denoting a rank or office.

Borrowed from Latin continuum, the neuter form of continuus, from continere ("to hold together, contain").

From Portuguese "Borneo," likely tracing back to a Sanskrit phrase meaning "island of Varuna" (a Hindu deity) — the same root as the name Brunei.

From German Rapunzel, originally the name of a lettuce-like salad plant that appears in the fairy tale itself.