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 under- plus statement, or alternatively from understate plus -ment.

From under- plus staffed.

From under- plus signed.

From under- plus shirt.

underprivileged

From under- plus privileged.

From under- plus pass.

From Old English underneoðan, from under plus neoðan ("from below"); related to the word "beneath."

From Old English underling, formed from under + the suffix -ling (as in "duckling").

From Old French sospecious, from Latin suspiciosus, related to suspicio, "suspicion."

From Latin cancerosus, from cancer, "tumour", plus the adjective suffix -osus.

From Old French manoir ("to dwell"), from Latin manēre ("to stay, remain") — the same root as "remain" and "mansion."

From important + -ly.

From Old French triste, a hunting term for a waiting spot, likely from a North Germanic word related to "trust."

Borrowed from Latin frons, frond- ("leafy branch").

From Latin pubes ("hair that appears at puberty").

From Old English mapul-, the same root seen in words like "mapulder" — a very old Germanic name for the tree, related to words in Old Norse and Old High German for the same tree.

From "pubis" plus the adjective suffix -ic.

Named after Bikini Atoll, where the US tested nuclear weapons in 1946 — the swimsuit's designer reportedly hoped it would cause a similar sensation.

A straightforward compound of swim and suit.

From Old French suburbe, from Latin suburbium, from sub- ("near, under") plus urbs ("city").

Borrowed from French barrage ("barrier"), related to barrier, around 1859.

Formed from the name Freud plus the adjective suffix -ian, referring to Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.

From caution + -ous, echoing Latin cautus.

From Old French "conscience," from Latin "conscientia," meaning "knowledge within oneself," from "com-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").