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 "labor" plus the agent suffix "-er," meaning "one who labors."

From Middle English paynter, built from paint plus the agent suffix -er.

From Latin commotio ("agitation, disturbance"), from commovere ("to stir up violently") — the same root as "commove" and "motion."

A compound of paint and brush.

From French palatial, based on Latin palatium, "palace."

From Old French homicide, ultimately from Latin homicida ("man-killer") and homicidium ("manslaughter").

Coined in 1943-44 by lawyer Raphael Lemkin from Greek génos ("race, kind") plus Latin -cide ("killing"), originally in reference to the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust.

From French migraine, ultimately from Greek hēmikrania — "hēmi-" ("half") + "kranion" ("skull") — describing pain in one half of the head.

From French, ultimately from Latin "transire" — "trans-" ("across") plus "ire" ("to go").

From Latin invitare, "to invite or entertain as a guest."

From Latin fascinare, "to bewitch or enchant," originally connected to the idea of casting a spell over someone.

From hind + sight, coined in the 19th century.

Borrowed from the Maori word tiki, meaning "carved figure," which in Polynesian mythology is also the name of the first human.

Borrowed from Māori for one sense; the monkey name comes from South American indigenous languages.

Built from dis- plus credit, in the sense of losing one's "credit" or good standing.

From Latin intrōdūcō, from intro- ("inward") + dūcō ("to lead") — literally "to lead in."

Recorded in English since around 1785, formed from dis- + integrate — the opposite of making something whole.

From Latin dissolvere, "to loosen apart," from dis- ("apart") + solvere ("to loosen").

Borrowed from Spanish and Italian viva, "long live."

Formed from torture plus the agent suffix -er.

From Old French vexer, from Latin vexare, "to disturb, agitate, annoy".

From Anglo-Norman tourmentour, going back to Old French tormenteor — the same root as "torment."

From Old French torment, from Latin tormentum ("an instrument of torture" or "something twisted"), from torquere, "to twist".

From Latin elatus, "raised up" — the same root as elation and elevate.