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

Named after Osman I, founder of the Ottoman dynasty. The furniture sense arose in the early 1800s because reclining on low couches was associated with Middle Eastern style at the time.

From German "Ozon," coined in 1840 from Greek "ozein" ("to smell"), because of the gas's sharp odour.

From psych- + the medical suffix -osis, or directly from Greek psukhōsis ("animation, principle of life").

From neuro- ("nerve") plus -sis, originally reflecting the old idea that such disorders came from problems in the nerves.

From Middle English flateren, likely blending an Old English word for fluttering or fawning with an Old French word meaning to stroke with the flat of the hand.

From "flat" + the verb-forming suffix "-en."

From a Norman place name meaning roughly "place of alder trees", tracing back to a Celtic word for the alder tree.

From French reservation, built from "reserve" plus the noun ending "-ation".

From Latin commendare ("to entrust, recommend"), from com- + mandare — a doublet of "command."

From Russian братва (bratva), meaning "brotherhood," related to брат (brat, "brother").

From Latin insistere ("to stand upon, persist"), from in- + sistere ("to stand").

From under- + growth.

From Old French sermon, from Latin sermō, "speech, discourse."

From Old French covert, meaning "covered" — the same root as the verb "cover."

From Latin collega, "a partner in office", from com- ("with") and legare ("to send on a mission").

A compound of post (mail) and master.

From Old French "prechier," from Latin "praedicare," meaning "to proclaim" or "announce publicly."

From Latin illiteratus, "unlearned" — in- ("not") + literatus ("lettered, educated").

From Latin perpetuus, "continuing throughout," built from per- ("through") and a root meaning "to seek" or "make for."

From Old English dæfte, meaning "gentle" or "mild" — the meaning shifted over centuries from "meek" to "foolish," in a similar way to how "silly" once meant "innocent" but now means "foolish."

Borrowed from German Bummler ("a drifter or loiterer"); the modern "disappointment" sense developed later in casual American English.

From Arabic šāḏiyya, meaning "rare" or "unique."

From Latin persistentem, present participle of persistō (“continue steadfastly”). By surface analysis, persist + -ent.

Formed from optic plus the adjective ending -al.