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 authority plus the suffix -arian, first used around 1880.

Built from Latin de- ("away, removing") and odor ("smell"), so literally "something that takes away smell."

From Old English roots referring to a loose outer garment, later shifting to describe sloppy, spilled substances.

From Latin compulsio, from compellere, "to compel or coerce."

From Solon, the name of an influential ancient Athenian statesman and lawgiver, one of the Seven Sages of Greece.

Borrowed from French spécialiste, built from "special" plus the noun-forming ending -ist.

Shortened from violoncello, Italian for "little violone" (an early double bass) — so the name literally means "small big-viola."

From Middle English flykke, describing a light quick blow. The film sense comes from early movies visibly flickering due to low frame rates.

From Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of obscure origin, borne by a Roman playwright and by early Christian saints. * In Ireland, it has been used to represent Turlough.

From Old French poindre, "to prick," from Latin pungere, "to pierce, sting" — the same root as "pungent."

Named after the German city of Landau, where the carriage design originated.

Formed from "globalize" plus the noun ending "-ation."

From Italian ballotta, "little ball" — small balls were once dropped into a container to register votes in secret.

Shortened from the full chemical name tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane.

From French convalescent, from Latin convalescens, the present participle of convalescere ("to grow strong again").

Originally a term for a huge aerial bomb capable of destroying an entire city block, later applied figuratively to hugely successful films and events.

From "pen" (to enclose) plus the old past-tense ending "-t", the same pattern seen in words like "bent" from "bend".

A learned borrowing from Latin bis, meaning "twice".

From Anglo-Norman leisir, from Old French loisir, "to be permitted", ultimately from Latin licere, "to be allowed" — the same root behind license.

From Latin medicīnālis, related to medicīna ("medicine").

From un- + fortunate.

From Latin notātiō, related to notō ("to mark, note").

From Middle English badly, formed from bad plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From rouse + -ing.