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 Middle French dégrader, from Latin dē- ("down") + gradus ("step, rank").

From Late Latin intrōductōrius, from Latin intrōductus.

From Middle English fy, borrowed from Old French fi, ultimately from Latin.

A compound of life + guard, originally modelled on the Dutch lijfgarde ("bodyguard") before shifting to its modern water-safety meaning.

A straightforward compound of life + boat, naming a boat built specifically to save lives.

By surface analysis, shop + -ing.

From "special" plus the verb-forming suffix -ize.

From condole plus -ence, related to Latin condolere ("to suffer with, sympathize").

From inform + -ed.

From Old English huntung, the -ing form of hunt.

From French espionnage, from espionner, "to spy," ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to peek" or "to watch closely" — the same root behind "spy."

A blend of parachute and trooper, coined for airborne infantry.

From mis- + fortune.

Borrowed from French Foucault.

From Old English hosa, "leggings," related to German Hose ("trousers") — the clothing sense came first, and the tube-for-liquid sense followed later by resemblance.

From French évasif, from the same Latin root as evade.

From Latin conclūdere, "to shut up, close, end."

From the phrase "speak easy," meaning to talk quietly — patrons were told to keep their voices down so as not to draw police attention.

From an older English word "swarty," itself from "swart" meaning black, going back to Old English sweart ("black").

Compound of tape and worm, describing the flat, ribbon-like shape of the parasite.

From un- + inspired.

From predict plus the adjective-forming suffix -able.

From Sanskrit paṇḍita, meaning "learned one" — a doublet of the English word "pundit."

From French croisade, ultimately from Latin cruciata ("marked with a cross"), tied to the crusaders' practice of wearing a cross as a symbol of their cause.