Etymology — The origins of English words

From Ancient Greek παιδείᾱ (paideíā, “rearing of a child, education”), from παιδεύω (paideúō, “rear a child”) + -ίᾱ (-íā), from παῖς (paîs, “child”).

From Latin paeān (“a hymn, especially a victory hymn, to Apollo or another god”), from Ancient Greek παιᾱ́ν (paiā́n, “a chant or song, especially a thanksgiving or victory hymn, to Apollo under the name Παιᾱ́ν (Paiā́n)”), from the phrase Ἰὼ Παιᾱ́ν (Iṑ Paiā́n, “O Paean!, Thanks to Paean!”). According to Homer, Paián or Paean was the name of the physician of the gods; its further etymology is unclear. It has been suggested that Παιᾱ́ν is derived from *παιάϝων (*paiáwōn, “one who heals illnesses through magic”), from *παῖϝα (*paîwa), *παϝία (*pawía, “to blow”), related to παίω (paíō, “to hit, strike”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pēu-, *pyu-, *pū- (“to hit; to cut”)), or from παύω (paúō, “to bring to an end; to abate, to stop”) (from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few, little; smallness”)), or that it may be a Pre-Greek word. Compare Middle French and French pæan (also French péan), Italian peana, Portuguese peã, péan.

From passionate + -ness.

From Middle English pevyshnesse, equivalent to peevish + -ness.

From prescription + -ist.

From paper + board.

From ply + board.

piggyback + an abbreviated form of baculovirus (?)

From pharmacy + -ian, probably after the model of French pharmacien.

From Medieval Latin paenitentiālis, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance”). Attested since the 16th century.

Variant of Prendergast.

From earlier pilcher, adapted to the suffix -ard. Further etymology unknown. Compare Dutch pelser.

From poly- + -gamous.

From participial + -ize.

From Middle French pravité, and its source, Latin prāvitās (“crookedness; depravity”), from prāvus (“prave”).

From a Middle English diminutive of the given name Patrick + -son.

From Middle English Patrick, from Latin Patricius (“patrician”), the name of an early Irish saint. Doublet of Paddy.

From prejudice + -ious.

Probably from the stem of Latin phalanx + -eal (in laryngeal, pharyngeal). Compare earlier phalangal and rare New Latin phalangeus.

Probably from a North Germanic source, compare dialectal Norwegian penn (“peen”), Danish pind (“peg”), German Pinne (“the peen of a hammer”), Old Swedish pæna (“to pound iron with a hammer”).

From pleasant + -ry, probably modelled on Middle French plaisanterie.

From plash + -y.

From pecker + head, from pecker (“penis”).

From president + -ship.