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 Dutch/Middle Low German pekel ("brine"), which also gave English words like Scots pikkill.

From Greek autógraphon ("a writing in one's own hand"), from auto- ("self") plus gráphō ("write").

From Medieval Latin signatura, from Latin signare ("to sign, mark"), from signum ("sign").

From Latin tactilis, "able to be touched," from tangere, "to touch."

Formed from lose plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "one who loses."

From an old French word meaning "a throwing", ultimately from Latin iactare, "to throw repeatedly" — a distant cousin of "jet" and "jut".

A clipped form of "utility vehicle," from the 1930s term "coupé utility."

From French carrière ("racecourse, road"), from Italian carriera, ultimately from Latin carrus ("wheeled vehicle") — the racecourse sense came first, and "career" only later broadened to mean someone's whole working path, as if running a long track through life.

From Greek phono- ("sound") plus -graph ("something written or recorded").

Likely imitative of the buzzing sound the instrument makes.

From Old English rō, meaning quiet or rest, tracing back to an ancient root for "to rest."

From Latin erotica, the neuter plural of eroticus, from Greek erōtikos ("relating to love").

From French érotique, from Greek erōtikos, "relating to love," from erōs ("sexual love").

From Italian donna, "lady" — a doublet of "dame" and "domina," all tracing back to Latin domina.

From Old English upriht, from up- + right.

From Latin zōna, from Greek zṓnē ("girdle, belt") — originally describing a belt-like band, later applied to bands of climate or land.

From administrate + -ive.

From Old English wōs ("sap, juice"), related to Old High German wasal ("rain") — a Germanic root tied to slow seepage and moisture.

From Latin associatio, from "associate" plus the noun suffix "-ion".

Formed from "stink" plus the agent suffix "-er".

From aero- ("air") plus sol, short for "solution," describing particles dispersed in gas.

Built from tracheo- ("windpipe") plus -tomy ("a cutting"), both from Greek.

From mail + man.

Formed from "Zion" plus the suffix "-ist," which marks a supporter or follower of a movement.