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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

From art + the informal suffix -y, which turns a noun into a casual descriptive adjective (compare "sporty," "horsy").

From cataclysm plus the adjective suffix -ic.

A compound of "king" and "pin" — originally a literal mechanical part, later extended to mean a central, indispensable figure.

From down- plus fall, originally written as two words as early as the 13th century.

From shore + line.

Borrowed from Italian calzone, literally "trouser leg" or "stocking" — a nod to its folded, pocket-like shape.

From Middle English scheperdesse, formed from shepherd plus the feminine suffix -ess.

From sugar plus coat, based on the old practice of coating bitter medicine tablets in sugar to hide the taste.

From Latin chrysalis, from Greek khrusallís, related to khrusós (\"gold\") — likely a reference to the golden sheen of some species' pupal cases.

The cake sense goes back centuries, possibly from a Welsh or Breton word for a folded pancake. The slang sense for an attractive person appeared in the 1930s, possibly linked to rhyming slang for "strumpet".

From Medieval Latin elementālis, built from element plus the adjective suffix -al.

From Ancient Greek dêmos, "the common people of a district or city-state" — the same root found in "democracy."

From idiot + -ic.

From Middle English thoȝtful, built from thought plus -ful.

From Old English drēoriġ, "sad" or "bloody," from a root meaning "to break or crumble" — related to the idea of being worn down by grief.

From Middle English brunt, meaning a sudden blow or attack, likely linked to an Old Norse word for rushing forward violently.

From Latin profānitās, built from profane + -ity.

Borrowed from French baguette ("stick, rod"), from Italian bacchetta, ultimately from Latin baculum ("staff").

From change + the suffix -ling, which often denotes something small or immature.

Formed from headline plus the agent suffix -er, someone or something that "headlines."

From Old French recours, from Latin recursus ("a running back").

Formed from choke plus the -er ending, meaning "one that chokes" or "something worn at the throat."

Likely built from "scrimp" (to be frugal) plus a suffix suggesting abundance, though some scholars instead trace it to "sumptuous" — the two possible origins may have influenced each other.

Borrowed from French purée, from the verb purer ("to strain, purify"), ultimately related to pure.