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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Sanskrit · 1785

Borrowed from Sanskrit karma ("action, deed"), first used in English in 1785 in an early translation of the Bhagavad Gita.

From Sanskrit "hima" (snow) and "alaya" (abode), meaning "abode of snow."

From Sanskrit chakra, meaning "wheel" or "disc."

Named after Kashmir, the region historically famous for this wool.

From pyro- ("fire") plus technic ("skill, craft"), the same root pattern as "technique."

From French ptérodactyle, coined by naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek pteron ("wing") + daktylos ("finger").

From Middle English procucie, a contraction of procuracie, ultimately from Latin procuratio, "management" — related to procure.

From Greek pneumatikos, "of wind or breath," from pneuma, "air, breath, spirit."

The bird's name is imitative of its call, likely influenced by the given name Phoebe, which comes from Ancient Greek phoibe, "bright, shining one" — a title once linked to the moon goddess Selene.

A less common spelling of Philip.

From Old French fantosme, from Latin phantasma, from Greek phantazein, "to make visible" — a doublet of "phantasm."

Formed from "pediatric" plus the suffix "-ian," used for people who practice a field.

From French patriote, from Late Latin patriōta ("fellow countryman"), from Greek patriōtēs, ultimately from patēr ("father").

Borrowed from Ancient Greek paranoia, "madness," from para- ("beside, beyond") + nous ("mind") — literally, a mind that has gone "beside itself."

Coined in 1792 by painter Robert Barker from Greek pan- ("all") + horama ("view"), to describe his sweeping circular paintings.

From Ancient Greek osteon ("bone") plus porosis ("becoming porous"), itself from poros, a term for porous rock — literally "porous bone condition."

From French orthopédique, built from Greek orthos ("straight") and pais/paid- ("child") — originally coined for correcting deformities in children.

From Old French galerie ("a long portico"), from Medieval Latin galeria, of uncertain origin — possibly linked to Galilee, referring to a church porch.

From Ancient Greek orkhḗstra, the semicircular space in front of a Greek theatre stage where the chorus danced — from orkhéomai, "to dance."

From the Odyssey, the ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer describing the hero Odysseus's long voyage home from Troy.

A clipping of bulimia, deliberately shaped to resemble the given name Mia.

From the character Mentor in Homer's Odyssey, the trusted advisor left in charge of Odysseus's son Telemachus — the name became a general word for "wise counselor."

From Greek melas, meaning "black" or "dark."

From "melano-" (dark, black) plus the medical suffix "-oma" (tumor).