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 Old French descouragier, built from des- ("dis-") plus corage ("courage, heart").

From Latin arduus, "steep, high, difficult," related to an old word for "high."

From up- + stage. The figurative meaning "to draw attention away" comes from actors moving to a higher, more visible spot on a sloped stage.

From French érectile, built from Latin erectus ("raised up") plus the adjective suffix -ile.

From Latin dissipare, "to scatter, disperse," from dis- ("apart") + supare/supō ("to throw").

From Old English brīdel, an old Germanic word for a strap or rein, related to the verb "braid".

From Old French usable, from user, "to use."

From Middle French coronnel, from Italian colonnello ("commander of a column of soldiers"), from Latin columna ("column, pillar"). The English spelling was later changed to match the Italian, but the older "r" pronunciation stuck, which is why "colonel" is pronounced like "kernel."

From talent plus the adjective suffix -ed.

From Latin compromissum, "a mutual promise to accept an arbiter's decision," from com- ("together") + promittere ("to promise").

From Middle English wrongful, equivalent to wrong + -ful.

Borrowed from Ancient Greek drāmatikós, built from drāma ("a play") plus a suffix meaning "relating to."

From Latin erectus, "raised up," the past participle of erigere — from e- ("out") plus regere ("to direct, keep straight").

From frame + work.

From Old English writ, "writing" — related directly to the verb "write".

From wrist + watch.

From Latin sūmptuōsus, from sūmptus ("expense"), itself from sūmō ("to take, spend").

From Middle English wrecche, from Old English wreċċa (“exile, outcast”), from Proto-Germanic *wrakjô (“exile, fugitive, warrior”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“to track, follow”). Doublet of garçon.

From Middle English wrastlere, equivalent to wrestle + -er.

From Old English wrǣstlian, "to wrestle" — related to "wrest", meaning to twist or pull forcefully.

From wrig + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare Dutch wriggelen (“to wriggle, squirm”), Low German wriggeln (“to wriggle”). Related to Old English wrigian (“to turn, wend, hie, go move”), from Proto-Germanic *wrigōną (“to wriggle”).

First recorded in the 1690s, originally describing eels; the deeper origin is uncertain.

From German and Italian Carla. By surface analysis, Carl + -a.

From Middle English wrappinge, wrappynge, equivalent to wrap + -ing.