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 "occupation" plus the adjective suffix "-al".

From Latin occupans, present participle of occupare, "to seize, take possession of".

From "occupant" plus the noun-forming suffix "-cy".

An abbreviation of "disc jockey".

Origin unclear, possibly imitating the sound of a small huff or puff of irritation.

Borrowed from Arabic ḥashīsh, literally "dried herb" or "hay."

Traced to Arabic terms linked to a medieval sect and, in popular legend, to hashish users — the word passed into English through French and Italian.

From Greek askētikos, "given to exercise or training," from askein ("to exercise, train") — originally describing the rigorous training of an athlete before it came to mean spiritual self-discipline.

From terminate + -ed.

From un- ("not") plus disputed, the past participle of dispute.

From Old French poser, "to place or put," ultimately from Latin pausare ("to pause, rest").

Formed from consistent plus -cy.

From "bone" plus the adjective suffix "-y."

From Medieval Latin preventio, related to praevenire ("to anticipate, to come before").

From Hindi शर्मा (śarmā) or Telugu శర్మ (śarma).

From Middle English occasionally, occasionaly, occasyoneely, occasyonly, equivalent to occasional + -ly.

From "obstinate" plus the noun-forming suffix "-cy".

From "obstetrics" plus the suffix "-ician", used for professionals in a field.

From obstetric.

From Old French obstacle, from Latin obstaculum, related to obstare, "to stand in the way".

From Latin obsessus, "besieged" — from ob- ("towards, against") plus sedere ("to sit"); the same root shows up in "session" and "possess".

From observe plus the agent suffix "-er", meaning someone who does the action of the verb.

From Latin suppositio, from sub- ("under") + positio ("position"), from ponere ("to put, place").

From Medieval Latin intentionalis, built from "intention" + the adjective suffix "-al."