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 "jig" plus the frequentative suffix "-le," suggesting repeated small movements.

From Old French afermer, from Latin affirmare, "to make firm" — built from ad- plus firmus, "firm."

Borrowed from French brigade, ultimately from Italian brigata, related to briga ("strife, trouble").

From Latin capsula ("little box"), a diminutive of capsa ("box, case").

From tamp ("to pack down firmly") plus the agent/frequentative suffix -er.

Borrowed from German Meister ("master"), from Latin magister — making it a doublet of "master," "mister," and "maestro."

From Old French boucle ("metal ring for fastening"), from Latin buccula ("cheek strap of a helmet"), ultimately from bucca ("cheek"). The sense of collapsing under pressure likely grew out of an older meaning "to prepare oneself for battle" (as in strapping on armor).

From Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, "to climb down," from de- + scandere, "to climb."

Borrowed in the 16th century from Dutch grof, meaning coarse or rough.

From Latin dexteritas, related to dexter, "on the right side" — reflecting the old assumption that right-handedness meant greater skill.

A shortened, generalized form of "Internet," originally referring to a network connecting separate networks together.

From "after" + an old word "math," meaning a mowing — the aftermath was originally the second cutting of grass that grows back after the first hay harvest.

From endear ("to make dear") plus the suffix -ing.

Formed from "wack(y)" plus the informal "-o" ending, the same pattern seen in words like "cheapo" or "weirdo".

From Middle English jogelen, blending an earlier word for "juggler" with Old French jongler ("to entertain, jest") and ultimately Latin joculari, "to joke."

From Middle English jogelyng, formed from juggle plus -ing.

From sincere + -ly, from Latin sincērus (“pure, clean, sound”).

A compound of "side" and "line".

From over- + board (as in the side of a ship).

From Italian gioviale, from Late Latin Ioviālis ("of Jove/Jupiter") — people born under Jupiter's astrological influence were once believed to have a naturally cheerful temperament.

From Ancient Greek thōrakikós, relating to the thorax (chest).

From Old French jaspre, from Latin iaspis, from Greek iaspis — the same word underlies the biblical and gemological uses.

A modern spelling variant of Alicia.

Named after Satsuma, an old province in southern Japan, from where the fruit was first exported to the West.