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 approximate plus the noun-forming suffix -ion.

From Old French frenesie, tracing back to Ancient Greek phrenitis, meaning "inflammation of the brain" — the same root behind "frantic" and "frenetic."

Formed from "slop" (mess, spilled liquid) plus the adjective suffix "-y."

From Old French frenetique, ultimately from Greek phrenitis, "inflammation of the brain" — the word originally described actual madness before softening to mean panicked or rushed.

From "lynch" plus the suffix "-ing".

Borrowed from Spanish chile, which came from the Nahuatl word chīlli.

Named after Champagne, the historic region of northeastern France where the wine originated.

Formed from thrill plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "something that thrills."

From Latin scrīptum ("something written"), the past participle of scrībere ("to write") — the same root that gives us "scribe" and "scripture."

From pure plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From Late Latin punctura, from pungere, "to prick."

From Old French percier, likely from a Latin root meaning "to thrust or bore through".

From Old French Herbert, itself from a Frankish name combining elements meaning "army" and "bright."

From Anglo-Norman emprouwement; equivalent to improve + -ment.

From Medieval Latin laboratorium, a place for laboring or working, built on Latin labor, "work."

Slang that started in Northern California, originally a shortening of "a hell of a" (lot).

Probably partly imitative of the sound of a hard hit, related to "whack," and partly from an old English word meaning to pat or stroke.

From French crayon, "pencil," from craie, "chalk," ultimately from Latin creta, "chalk" or "clay."

From Latin amandus, "who is to be loved"; a doublet of Aimee.

A learned borrowing via Medieval Latin "transcendentalis," from Latin "transcendens" ("surpassing").

A blend of "transmitter" and "receiver."

From Middle English glaren, related to Old English and Germanic words meaning "to glisten" or "to shine brightly" — the same root family as glass and glower.

From Old English liflaes, formed from life + the suffix -less ("without").

From Middle English unworthy, from un- (\"not\") plus worthy.