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 wrap plus the agent/instrument suffix "-er."

From Latin fastidiosus ("disdainful, squeamish"), from fastidium ("disgust, distaste").

From wrangle plus the agent suffix "-er."

From Middle English wranglen, related to a Low German word meaning "to struggle or wrestle" — the same root behind "wring."

The winemaking sense is simply a shortened form of "malolactic." The clothing sense comes from Hawaiian.

Possibly derived from "cuckoo", a word long used to describe someone a bit crazy.

From "dog" plus the diminutive suffix "-y," in the same pattern as "kitty" or "puppy."

From Old French Archaunbault, ultimately from Germanic roots meaning "genuine" and "bold".

From French journalisme, built from journal + the suffix -ism.

A clipped form of "Archibald"; the anti-aircraft sense reportedly comes from a music-hall song refrain shouted by pilots under fire.

A combination of "work" and "room."

From "workman" plus the suffix "-ship," which denotes a quality or skill.

From Old English "weorcmann," literally "work man."

From Old French joigneor, "one who joins," from joindre ("to join") — related to modern "join."

From Latin implicitus, past participle of implico ("to entangle, involve"); related to implicate.

Believed to come from "hootchy-kootchy," the name of an old sexually suggestive stage dance.

From jade, an old word for a worn-out horse, possibly from Old Norse jalda ("mare").

From un- (\"not\") plus wed.

From Old English "weorchūs," literally "work house" — a building for manufacturing or, later, for housing the poor who worked there.

From partial + -ly.

From Old French substanciel, from Latin substantialis, from substantia ("substance").

From authority plus the suffix -ative, both ultimately from Latin auctor ("originator").

From Ottoman Turkish "kısmet," meaning fate or destiny, ultimately from Arabic "qisma," meaning a portion or lot in life.

Borrowed from Latin gravitās ("weight, heaviness") — a doublet of the English word "gravity".