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 Ancient Greek Hēphaistos, a name whose origin predates Greek itself and is not fully understood.

From Ancient Greek helios, meaning "sun".

From Ancient Greek Hekátē, whose exact origin is debated — possibly linked to an epithet of Apollo meaning "the far-reaching one."

A deverbal noun from the phrasal verb "lay out."

From Latin contemplari, "to observe or gaze at attentively" — the root also behind "template."

From forget + -ful.

From Greek Orpheus, a name of uncertain origin possibly related to orphanós, "orphan."

From Old English berere, from bear ("to carry") + -er ("one who does").

From Ancient Greek Ganumḗdēs, likely meaning "delighting in thought" — the Jupiter moon was named after the mythological figure.

Ancient Greek · 1979

From the Ancient Greek Gaia, the personified Earth. Scientist James Lovelock borrowed the name in 1979 for his theory that the planet behaves like a single self-regulating organism.

From Middle English pithy, from pith ("core, essence") + -y.

From Latin for "the ninth," reflecting her role in being invoked during the ninth month of pregnancy.

From Latin explicitus, "unfolded, disentangled," related to explicare ("to unfold").

From an English place name combining Old English sċīr ("bright" or, in place names, related to shire) and lēah ("meadow"); later used as a surname and then a given name.

From Dutch boomken ("shrub, little tree"), related to boom ("tree, big stem").

Simply "chew" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."

From Latin textura, "a weaving, web, or structure", from texere, "to weave" — originally referring literally to woven cloth before broadening to any surface quality.

From appetize + -er, ultimately tied to Latin appetitus, "appetite."

Borrowed directly from French escargot, "snail."

From Middle French "conscientieux," ultimately related to "conscience" — the sense of being guided by a strong moral sense of duty.

Formed from tantra plus the adjective suffix -ic.

From Latin incrēdibilis, from in- ("not") plus crēdibilis ("believable"), from crēdere ("to believe").

Built from anti- ("against") and social.

From hot + head, echoing the old idea of anger as a "hot heart" — the same image survives in Old English hātheort, "hot-hearted, furious."