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 cello plus the "-ist" ending used for people who play instruments.

From Middle English rablen, meaning to ramble or speak incoherently — the sense shifted from confused talk to a confused, unruly mass of people.

From Middle English presently; equivalent to present + -ly.

Traced back to Greek sympathetikos, related to sympatheia, "fellow feeling" — built from syn- ("together") + pathos ("feeling").

From "skank" plus "-y."

From stable + the verb-forming suffix -ize.

From scientific plus the adverb-forming suffix -ally.

From rudiment plus the adjective ending -ary; rudiment traces back to Latin rudis, "raw" or "unworked."

From Middle English rudely, rudeliche, equivalent to rude + -ly.

From re- + productive.

From Latin sacrilegus, related to sacer ("sacred") and legere ("to gather/steal").

From random + -ly.

Classical Persian

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish مرو (merv), from Classical Persian مَرْو (marw) (whence also Turkmen Merw).

From Middle English merciful, built from mercy plus the suffix -ful; it replaced the older native English word mildheort.

From Latin litteratus, from littera ("letter"); a doublet of the words literato and literatus.

Formed from literate plus the suffix -cy, on the pattern of words like accuracy.

From Middle English astrologer, astrologier, astrologere, formed from Middle English astrologie or Latin astrologus + Middle English -ere, equivalent to astrology + -er. Ousted imported Middle English astrologien (“astrologer”), borrowed from Old French astrologien. Displaced Old English tungolwītga (literally “star prophet”).

From un- + popular.

An imitative word from 1930s American English, echoing the light "dink" sound of a soft tap.

From German Spritzer ("splash, spatter"), built on spritz plus the agent suffix "-er".

Squeezed together from the old phrase "God speed you," where "speed" meant "help you succeed," not "move fast."

From Old French revolver, from Latin revolvere, "to roll back" — re- plus volvo, "to roll".

From theology plus the adjective ending -ical.

From Old French theologien, built from theology plus the agent suffix -ian.