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 "nancy," compare "prance" and "mince" for the verb sense.

From un- + important.

From un- + healthy.

From Old English wearp, originally referring to threads stretched lengthwise on a loom, from a Germanic root related to "throwing" or "casting."

From Old English untrīewe, from un- (\"not\") plus true.

c. late 20th c., from the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Chinese 西安 (Xī'ān, “Western Peace”), without syllable-dividing mark (隔音符號／隔音符号 (géyīn fúhào)).

From surprise + -ing.

From socio- + -path (as in psychopath), first used around 1914.

From Hindi and Sanskrit "yogin," meaning one who practices yoga, from the same root that gives us "yoke" and "join."

From Old French prejudice, from Latin praeiudicium ("a prior judgment or injury"), from prae- ("before") plus iudicium ("judgment").

From experience + the past-participle ending -ed.

From Greek patho- ("disease") plus -gen ("producing") — literally, "disease-producer."

Formed from coast plus the adjective suffix -al.

Likely related to old English dialect words like "daddle" or "doddle," meaning to walk slowly or aimlessly — probably imitative in origin.

From band (a range of frequencies) + width; originally a radio and telecommunications term before it was borrowed informally for personal capacity.

From unfortunate + -ly.

From un- + fettered — a fetter was originally a chain put around the ankles.

From Old English undergān, "to undergo, undermine," from under- + go.

From Middle English Maurice, from Late Latin Mauritius, derived from Maurus (“Moor; dark, swarthy”). Popularized by a 3rd-century Roman soldier martyr.

From Latin coercere, "to restrain or confine," from co- ("together") + arcere ("to shut in, keep off").

A calque of the Dutch onderweg ("on the way"), formed from under- plus way.

From under- + age.

From un- + changing.

From un- + block.