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 English rīclīce, formed from rich plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

Formed from seeming plus the adverb suffix -ly.

Warm plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From comfortable plus the adverb suffix -ly.

From "less" plus the verb-forming suffix "-en," the same pattern seen in "widen" and "deepen."

From Middle English wildely, formed by adding "-ly" to "wild."

From singular plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From "decided" + "-ly."

Formed from hurried plus the adverb suffix -ly.

From principal plus the adverb suffix -ly.

From fierce plus -ly.

From honest + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

Formed from "beautiful" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

From Middle English wonderfully, from wonderful plus -ly.

From tender + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From Middle English curiusly, built from "curious" plus "-ly."

From infinite plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From frank + -ly.

From Middle English feithfulli, formed from faithful plus -ly.

From Middle English specialli, specially, equivalent to special + -ly.

From Middle English positively, equivalent to positive + -ly.

From violent + the adverb suffix -ly.

From invariable + -ly.

Borrowed from Pijin (a Solomon Islands creole), itself from a local Vangunu-language word for the animal.