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 Jane + -et, q.v. Chiefly Scottish until the 19th century. Doublet of Jeanette, Jeannette, Juanita, Shanae, and Sinead.

From Middle French armoire, originally meaning a cabinet for storing weapons — related to "armor".

Likely from a Low German word meaning "to flirt with the eyes" — related to an old word for "eye".

From off plus stage.

From Late Latin officiare, "to perform a function", from officium, "duty, service".

A clipped, informal shortening of "navigation" or "navigate."

Formed from girl + the adjective suffix -y.

From Middle English Irisshman, formed from Irish plus man.

A casual pronunciation of "Mrs.," itself shortened from "mistress."

From "odor" plus the suffix "-less", meaning "without".

From Old English sċūfan, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to push".

By surface analysis, burn + -ing.

From Middle English closere, formed from close plus the agent suffix -er.

From Latin nominatus, past participle of nomino, "to name," from nomen, "a name."

From Old English rēdere ("a reader, a diviner"), formed from "read" plus the agent suffix "-er."

From Late Latin invāsiō, from invādō, "to invade."

From Ancient Greek Προμηθεύς (Promētheús), from πρό ("before") + μανθάνω ("to think").

Borrowed in the 1850s from French opter, from Latin optare, "to choose or wish for."

From Old French romanz, meaning a story written in the everyday language of France as opposed to formal Latin — ultimately from Latin romanicus, "Roman".

From French romantique, ultimately tracing back to Old French romanz — the medieval tales of romance and adventure that gave the word its dreamy, idealized sense.

From Greek kryptikos, related to kryptos ("hidden") — the same root as "crypt".

From Latin nausea, from Greek nausia, "seasickness," from naus, "ship" — the same root as "nautical" and "navy."

From Latin oculus, "eye".

From Latin occupare, "to seize, take possession of", from ob- plus capere ("to take, seize") — the same root behind "capture".