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 Middle English, combining words meaning "bare" and "load."

Coined by Isaac Asimov in 1941, modeling the word on other science names like "physics" and "mechanics."

From "robot" plus the adjective ending "-ic," coined by science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov in 1941.

From Latin reductio, drawn from the same root as reduce.

Probably built from crack (as in "crack-brained") plus pot, likening an unstable mind to a cracked pot.

From "natural" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

From over + the adverbial suffix -ly.

From "slight" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

From Medieval Latin brutalis (\"savage, stupid\"), from Latin brutus (\"dull, stupid\") — the same root that gives us \"brute.\"

From Middle French, ultimately from Latin severus, "serious, strict, grave."

From French ciscoette, borrowed from the Ojibwe word siscowet.

From Middle English schrewed ("wicked, depraved"); the meaning softened over centuries from "malicious" to "cunning" to today's more approving "sharp-witted."

Likely from Italian fagotto, ultimately from Latin fascis, "bundle."

Borrowed from Bulgarian Антонов (Antonov).

From gun + fire.

From Old French resnable, from Latin ratiōnābilis, from ratiō ("reason") — a doublet of rationable.

From Middle English softenen, built from soft + the verb-forming suffix -en.

From Old English myrge, "pleasant, delightful," related to a Germanic root meaning "short" — the link is thought to be that pleasant time seems to pass quickly.

From Latin congressus, past participle of congredi, "to come together" — from con- + gradi ("to step, go").

From Latin prōmōtus, past participle of prōmoveō ("to move forward, advance"), from pro- ("forward") plus moveō ("to move").

From French multiple, from Late Latin multiplus.

From Middle French impotence, from Latin impotentia, "lack of power."

Formed in English from responsible plus -ity.

From Old English eldra, the comparative form of "old," altered in spelling by a sound change called umlaut.