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 New Latin Prussia, a name applied by medieval chroniclers to the region, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly linked to old Baltic words for the local peoples.

Anglicization of Welsh Ifan, ultimately from Latin Jōhannēs, variant of Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (yōḥānān, yokhanán, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of Giovanni, Ian, Ivan, Jack, Jean, Johan, Johann, Johannes, John, Sean, Shane, Shaun, and Shawn.

From Middle Dutch loteren ("to shake, wobble, dawdle"), via Middle English loitren. Related to the English word "lout."

From mal- ("bad") plus "practice."

From Korean 한(韓) (han). Cognate with English Han (from Mandarin).

From Old English openness, built from open plus the noun suffix "-ness" (as in "kindness" or "happiness").

From Old French diversité, from Latin dīversitās, built on diverse plus -ity.

From Latin suppressus, from supprimere ("to press down"), from sub- ("under") + premere ("to press").

From Old English smerian, "to rub with grease or oil," related to German schmieren and the word "schmear."

From Old English slipor ("smooth, slippery"), from the same Germanic root as "slip."

Borrowed from French révolter, from Italian rivoltare, related to Latin revolvere, "to roll back".

Borrowed from Late Latin lumbago, "pain of the lumbar region," built from lumbus, "loin."

The malware sense comes from "Trojan horse," the deceptive wooden horse from the legend of the fall of Troy.

From in- + escapable, from escape.

Borrowed from Polish Wanda, possibly derived from an ethnic term for “a Wend”.

From Old English hlynn, "torrent," via Middle English.

An American variant of "holla" or "hollo," old shouts used to draw attention.

From "mouse" plus "-y."

From Old French relai, originally referring to a reserve pack of hounds kept fresh to continue a hunt.

Formed in the 1920s from Latin sentiō, "to feel," on the pattern of words like "motor."

Past participle of embarrass.

From pre- ("before") plus historic.

From Middle English sethyng, from the verb seethe ("to boil") plus -ing.

From Latin cortex, meaning "bark" or "rind" — the same word that gave us "cork."