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 Latin voluntarius, "willing," from voluntas, "will" or "wish."

From Late Latin metropolitanus, from Greek mētropolitēs, ultimately from metropolis.

Originally a literal wooden crate used for shipping soap, which people would stand on in public to make speeches.

From Middle English gossomer, likely from "goose" + "summer" — originally describing a spell of mild autumn weather when geese were traditionally eaten, later transferred to the delicate cobwebs that appear at that time of year.

Italian · 1971

Coined in 1971 by Boston Globe editor Bill Cardoso, possibly influenced by Italian gonzo ("fool") or Spanish ganso ("goose, fool").

From the Germanic/Yiddish word for "almond," or in some cases a variant of the surname Mendel.

From Middle French libération, from Latin liberatio, "a freeing" — built on liberate plus the noun suffix -ion.

From Old French resistence, from Latin resistentia, built from "resist" plus "-ance".

From Old French exhibicion, built from "exhibit" plus the noun ending "-ion."

From Latin museum ("place of study"), from Ancient Greek Mouseion, meaning a shrine to the Muses.

From Old French, ultimately from Latin sensus, "sense" or "feeling."

From Latin poena ("punishment"), from Greek poine ("penalty, blood money").

Formed from transport plus the noun ending -ation, tracing back through Old French to Latin trans- ("across") and portare ("to carry").

From "realist" plus the adjective suffix "-ic."

From ship plus -ing, originally meaning "to take ship" or "to equip a vessel" in Old and Middle English.

From New Latin vibrator, from Latin vibrare, "to vibrate," plus the agent suffix -or.

From Latin vorax, built from voro, "to devour."

From vouch plus the agent suffix -er.

A back-formation from "destruction" — the noun came first, and "destruct" was created from it.

From Latin navigationem, "sailing," from navigare, "to sail."

From Middle English sailende, formed from sail + the -ing suffix.

From up- + grade, originally describing an upward slope before extending to any improvement.

From French physiologie, from Latin physiologia, from Greek phusiologia ("natural philosophy"), from phusis ("nature") plus logos ("study").

From Old French pois/poise ("weight"), from Latin pendere, "to weigh." The sense shifted from literal weighing to the modern idea of graceful balance.