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 French pagination.

From Latin percōlātiō.

Borrowed from Pashto پښتون (pax̌tūn). Doublet of Pathan.

From Latin praedor + -aceous.

From pleased + -ness.

From powder + -ize.

From polarize + -ing.

From oxy- + -lith.

From papyrograph + -ic and papyrography + -ic.

From Middle French parapharnelz. By surface analysis, paraphernal + -s. Attested since the early 1500s, whereas the adjective paraphernal since the late 1700s.

Alteration of pompon, from French pompon (“ornamental tuft”); of unknown origin, perhaps related to Old French pomp.

From Latin phlegmōn, phlegmonē (“inflammation beneath the skin”), from Ancient Greek φλεγμονή (phlegmonḗ, “inflammation, fiery heat”), from φλέγω (phlégō, “burn”).

From Latin pāgānismus (“heathenism”), from pāgānus (“peasant, rural, rustic”). The term was used pejoratively by local Orthodox Christian Demonyms to belittle what remained of alternative native ideas and ideals. By surface analysis, pagan + -ism.

From Latin parelion, from Ancient Greek παρήλιον (parḗlion), from παρά (pará) + ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”).

From prankish + -ness.

From Welsh ap + English Richard.

From praiseworthy + -ly.

From Middle English previsioun, from Old French prevision, from Late Latin praevisio, praevisionem, from Latin praevideo.

From pre- + medication.

From pinch + penny.

PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle French pentacle, from Old French pentacol (“pendant”), from pent (“hangs”), a (“from”), and col (“neck”), thus "hangs from neck". Likely reanalyzed in medieval times as coming from penta- (“five”) and -culum (object forming suffix), as evidenced by the Latinized form pentaculum and the narrowing of the modern sense to a five-pointed design, especially a pentagram.

1891, meaning "poorhouse", possibly from British hobo slang. 1954 assistance.

From Middle English penetrable, penytrable, from Old French penetrable, from Medieval Latin penetrābilis.