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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Possibly from an old slang phrase about tricking or "pulling Yorkshire on" someone, meaning to deceive them.

From Old French loirre, from a Frankish word for the object used to call a hawk back in falconry — its root may connect to a very old word meaning "invitation."

Formed from the phrasal verb "build up," turned into a single noun.

From former + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From Middle English likely, from Old English ġelīclīċ ("suitable") and a related Old Norse word — ultimately built from like plus the adjective ending -ly.

From Old French croupe ("rump, body"), from an Old Norse word for the body or trunk.

Named after Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who refounded the city in 330 AD.

From Latin remedialis, from remedium ("a remedy" or "cure").

From Latin persuasio, from persuadere ("to persuade") — see "persuade."

From Old French profitable, built from "profit" plus the suffix "-able."

From French lucratif, from Latin lucrativus ("profitable"), ultimately from lucrum, meaning "gain" or "profit."

From Greek anaimia, from an- ("without") + haima ("blood").

From Latin patientia, "endurance," from patior, "to suffer or endure."

From Old French estuve, meaning a bathhouse or steam room, later shifted to mean slow cooking.

From Late Latin implementum ("a filling up"), from Latin impleo ("to fill").

A military radio blend of "will comply," shortened for fast, clear voice communication.

From Middle English widwer, formed from widow plus the masculine suffix -er.

From Old English widuwe, from a very old Indo-European root meaning "to separate" — related to the word wide.

From Latin probare, "to test or examine" — a doublet of "prove."

From Old English ēarhring, literally "ear-ring" — a very old compound found across the Germanic languages.

From Old French robe, originally meaning "booty" or "spoils of war" — clothing taken from a defeated enemy — from a Germanic root meaning "to strip or plunder." The same root gives us "rob."

From wide + the verb-forming suffix -en.

From Middle English wikkednesse, from wicked + -ness.

From Old English wēoce, going back to a West Germanic root for a bundle of flax used to make a candle wick.