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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transcontinental

Formed from "trans-" ("across") plus "continental."

From Old French "escuëlette," a small dish, ultimately from Latin "scutella," meaning "tray" or "small dish."

From Latin discursus, "the act of running about," from discurrere ("to run to and fro") — the sense shifted from "running around" to "talking around a topic."

Borrowed from French couscous, which came from Arabic kuskus, itself likely from a Berber language.

Italian · 1936

From Spanish trampolín and Italian trampolino, becoming a genericized trademark in English after being registered in 1936, though the word had already been in use since the 1790s.

From Middle French expédition, from Latin expeditio, "a setting free of the feet" — the same root that gives us "expedite."

Borrowed from Japanese ama, referring to the traditional pearl and shellfish divers.

Borrowed from German Wilhelm. Doublet of William.

From Old English freolic, related to "free" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

From Late Latin legislatio, "the giving of law" — built from legislate plus the noun-forming suffix -ion.

Formed from tour plus the suffix -ism, following the pattern of nouns describing systems or industries.

From fire, going back through Old English fȳr to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fire."

From Old French clarifiier, from Latin clarificare, "to make clear" — from clarus ("clear") + facere ("make").

From French retirement, from retirer ("to withdraw") — the same root as "retire."

From constant + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From Old English gaderung, built from "gather" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ing."

From Old French somet/sommet, a diminutive of som ("highest point"), ultimately from Latin summus ("highest").

From Latin repetitio, from repetere, "to repeat." A doublet of repetitio.

Borrowed from Italian motto ("a word, a saying"), from Latin muttum ("a mutter").

From a Proto-Germanic root related to "tripping" or "stammering," making it a distant relative of the word stammer.

From Greek onkos ("mass" or "tumor") plus -logy ("study of"); first recorded in English in 1857.

From Old English spillan, "to destroy or waste" — the modern sense of accidentally pouring something out developed later.

Originally from Gunk, a trademarked name for a liquid soap product, likely blending "grime" and "funk".

American English, attested since the early 1900s, possibly from "burgoo" (a thick porridge) or as an alteration of "glue."