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 Old French résine, from Latin resina, itself from Greek rhetine.

From Middle English schapynge, formed from shape plus the suffix -ing.

From Latin īrātus ("angered"), from īra ("anger, wrath").

From Old French descente, tied to descendre, "to descend" — built from the same root as "ascent" and "ascend", just heading the other direction.

From Latin intentio, "a stretching, straining, or aiming," from intendere, "to stretch toward."

From Old French entrevue, "a sight of each other," from entre- ("between") plus veoir ("to see").

From Middle English standynge, stondynge, standende, stondinde, standande, stondande, from Old English standende, stondende, from Proto-Germanic *standandz (“standing”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *standaną (“to stand”), equivalent to stand + -ing.

From Old French grange, "granary" or "barn," ultimately from Latin granum, "grain."

From Middle English morwe, from Old English morgen ("morning"); a doublet of "morn" and related to Dutch and German morgen.

Origin uncertain, though it may be linked to Old French tryncle ("piece of jewellery").

From thermo- ("heat") plus nuclear.

From Old French engagier ("to pledge"), from Frankish roots related to Proto-Germanic wadjōną ("to pledge, secure") — ultimately the same root as "wed."

From Latin institutum, "something established," from instituere, "to set up, establish."

From force + -ful.

From Hebrew Yehudit, "woman from Judea."

A pet form of the name Judith.

A straightforward compound of "after" + "life."

From Latin vibratus, the past participle of vibrare, "to shake or set in tremulous motion."

From Old French vaillant, from Latin valere, "to be strong or worth something" — the same root as "value" and "valid".

From re-, "again," plus play.

Borrowed directly from Latin consortium, from consors, "partner."

From Old French solas, from Latin sōlācium ("consolation").

From French consoler, from Latin consolari, "to comfort" — ultimately from a root meaning "solace."

From Latin consolidare, built on solidus, "solid" — literally "to make solid."