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 Old French estraction, based on Medieval Latin extractio — the noun form of "drawing out."

From Latin ēlevō ("to raise up"), from ē- ("out") plus levō ("to lighten, lift"), related to "levity" and "lever."

From an old Germanic root meaning "to mutilate or cut short," related to the English word "hamble" and to Low German and Bavarian words for hornless animals.

From fire and wall. The computing sense builds on the image of a physical barrier that blocks the spread of something dangerous.

From Old French tricherie, "cheating" — the same root as "trick."

From Old French trecheros, "deceitful" — related to "treachery."

From French impropriété, from Latin improprietas; equivalent to improper + -ty.

From in- ("not") + delicate, in the sense of "refined, tactful."

From re- ("again") plus work.

From "profuse" plus the adverb suffix "-ly."

From Old English ficol ("cunning, deceitful"), related to the old word fike ("to move restlessly").

From Middle English motle, related to Old English mot ("speck") — the same root that gives us mottle.

From Latin tutor, "a watcher, protector, guardian", from tueri, "to protect" — the same root as "tuition".

The feminine form of Eric; the plant genus name comes separately from Greek ereike ("heath, heather").

From elegant plus the adverb suffix -ly.

Built from deduct + -ible.

From supplement + -ary; compare French supplémentaire.

From Latin praevalens, related to praevalere ("to be superior, to prevail").

Scottish Gaelic

From a place name in Aberdeenshire, from Scottish Gaelic lios cuileann ("garden of hollies").

From bi- ("two") plus lateral ("relating to a side").

From Spanish machete, a diminutive of macho ("sledgehammer"), ultimately from Latin — related to the English word "mace."

From Old English Temes, ultimately from an ancient Celtic river-name meaning roughly "dark water."

From sub- ("below") plus liminal ("relating to a threshold"), from Latin līmen, "threshold."

From an obsolete verb sulter, a variant of swelter, combined with -y.