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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A fusion of in, as, and much, from the Middle English phrase in als mikel.

From trouble + make + -er.

From Middle English naughty, built from naught ("nothing, wickedness") plus -y — originally meant "wicked" or "worthless" before softening to today's "mischievous" sense.

From subsidy plus the verb-forming suffix -ize.

From Latin reticens, "keeping silent," from reticere ("to remain silent").

From Spanish paco, itself borrowed from Quechua, the language of the Andes where the animal is native.

Built from limit plus the suffix -less ("without").

Built from inferior plus the noun-forming suffix -ity.

Built from in- (\"not\") plus disputable, ultimately from Latin disputare (\"to argue, debate\").

From pervert + the past-participle ending -ed.

From "normal" plus the suffix "-ity," likely influenced by the French word "normalité."

An imitative word, formed to copy the sound itself.

From French bastion, from Old French bastille, "fortress."

From French grandiose, from Italian grandioso, ultimately from Latin grandis, "great."

From air + time, since radio and television broadcasts were traditionally described as going "on the air."

From neurology plus the adjective ending -ical.

From Old English wifel ("beetle"), from a very old root meaning "to weave," possibly referring to the woven-looking case a weevil larva builds around itself.

From rare + -ity, borrowed from Middle French rarité, from Latin rāritās; compare French rareté. See also rare.

Borrowed from French confident, "trusted person."

From "natural" plus the agent suffix "-ist," meaning someone devoted to the study of nature.

A back-formation from manipulation, ultimately from Latin manus, "hand."

Borrowed from French gélatine, ultimately from Latin gelō, "to freeze" or "congeal."

From Latin competens, present participle of competere, "to be fit or capable."

From Middle English "gyngle," an imitative (onomatopoeic) word related to "jangle."