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 "guide" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ance."

From "hand" + "writing."

From Old English stenc, originally meaning any strong smell, good or bad — over time it narrowed to mean specifically a foul one.

Borrowed from German Rucksack, literally "back sack."

From Old English on ōþre wīsan, literally "in another manner" — a fusion of "other" and "-wise" (meaning "in the manner of").

From Middle English wrinkle, wrynkel (“crease, fold, wrinkle”), from the verb (see below). Cognate with Dutch wrinkel (“wrinkle, crease”). Compare also Middle English runkel (“wrinkle”), from Old Norse hrukka (“wrinkle”), from Proto-Germanic *hrunkwǭ (“wrinkle, crease”), whence also French fronce (“crooked smile, scowl, frown”), German Runzel (“wrinkle”), Danish rynke (“wrinkle”), Swedish rynka and rynkla (“wrinkle”).

From Middle English bond, a variant of "band," from Old English words for a chain or binding tie — the same root that gives us "bind."

Formed from self plus -less.

From "system" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ic."

From Medieval Latin coalitio, related to Latin coalitus, "grown together" — the same root as coalesce.

From Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus ("quarrelsome"), related to contentio ("contention").

From Italian pesto, from Latin pistus ("crushed, pounded") — the same root as "pestle," reflecting how the ingredients are traditionally ground together.

From Old French reubarbe, ultimately from Greek rheon barbarikon, literally "foreign rhubarb" — because the plant was imported from outside the Greek and Roman world.

From Latin dormitorium, "a sleeping room," from dormire, "to sleep."

From Old French hernois, "equipment used in battle," ultimately traced back to Old Norse roots meaning "army" and "provisions."

From thing plus the informal diminutive suffix -y.

From Latin organicus, ultimately from Greek órganon, "instrument" or "organ."

Origin unknown, first recorded in print in the 1850s; related informal words like "spiff" and "spiffing" appeared soon after.

From Old French indigent, from Latin indigens, "needing," from indigere ("to need, lack").

From Late Latin aromaticus, from Ancient Greek árōma ("fragrant seasoning").

From Late Latin aroma ("spice"), from Ancient Greek árōma, meaning a spicy or fragrant seasoning.

Coined in German as a blend of Essig ("vinegar") and Äther ("ether") — describing a compound partway between the two in character.

Borrowed from French nitrate, built on "nitre" (an old name for saltpeter).

From Middle English polle, meaning "head" or "scalp" — voting by "head count" gave the word its modern sense of counting opinions.