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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

Formed from whimsy plus the adjective ending -ical.

From "popular" plus the noun suffix "-ity", echoing Latin popularitas ("effort to please the people").

From critic + -ism.

By surface analysis, miss + -ing.

From Middle English gretly, formed from great plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From French contraster, from Latin contrastare ("to stand against"), from contra ("against") plus stare ("to stand").

From social (in the sense of "high society") + the ending -ite, echoing the phrase "social light."

From leader plus the suffix -ship, itself going back to Old English roots meaning "state" or "condition."

Borrowed from Italian and Spanish Mario, both of which coming from Latin Marius.

From Anglicized forms of Irish Eibhlín, Eilín or Aibhilín in Middle English and Modern English, all cognates of Evelyn from Old French Aveline. Sometimes also used for the Irish name Éibhleann, possibly from Old Irish oíph (“radiance, beauty”).

From French originalité, built from original + the noun-forming suffix -ity.

From land + line — originally distinguishing cables laid across land from undersea telegraph cables.

From French organiste, ultimately from Latin organum.

From Old English ordēl, literally "a judgement dealt out" — related to the modern word "deal."

From French orchestration, built from "orchestrate" plus "-ion."

From "orchestra" plus the verb-forming suffix "-ate," on the model of French orchestrer.

From Late Latin oratorium, related to orare, "to speak, pray."

From Latin orator, "speaker," from orare, "to speak, plead."

From Old French conveier, from Vulgar Latin conviare, ultimately from Latin via, "way" — the same root as "convoy."

From Old French oracle, from Latin oraculum, related to orare, "to speak, pray."

From Latin opulentus, "wealthy," related to ops, "wealth, power, resources."

Formed from "necromancy" (from Greek nekros "corpse" + manteia "divination") plus the agent suffix -er.

Formed from optometry plus the person-suffix -ist.

Formed from option plus the adjective ending -al.