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 Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir, "to fail," combined with the suffix "-ure."

From Latin candidus, "white, bright", the same root that gives "candour" and "candle" — the idea of being "clear" as well as "shining."

From Latin prōclāmō, "to shout forth," from prō- ("forth") + clāmō ("to shout"); its spelling was later reshaped by the related word claim.

From Latin dictatum, "something dictated," rooted in dico, "to say" — the same root gives us "diction" and "dictionary."

From Latin regulātus, past participle of regulō, "to direct, control," from regula ("rule").

From Middle English reuler, formed from rule plus the agent suffix -er.

From Old French variacion, from Latin variatio, from variare, "to vary, to change."

From "monotone" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ous."

From Anglo-Norman extente, related to Latin extendere, "to stretch out".

From Latin aequivalens, "having equal power," from aequus ("equal") + valere ("to be strong, have power").

From Latin idem, "the same," via Medieval Latin identicus.

From Old French semblance, from sembler, "to seem or resemble," ultimately from Latin simulare, "to imitate."

Formed as a singular from the plural termites, from Latin termes ("woodworm"), the word Linnaeus used for the insect.

From French monogamie, ultimately from Greek monogamia, "having one marriage."

From Latin marītālis, from marītus ("husband").

From aesthetic plus the noun-forming ending -ics, on the model of words like "physics" or "ethics."

From illusion + -ist.

From French colossal, from Latin colossus, from Greek kolossos, "giant statue."

From Latin prōdigiōsus, "strange, marvellous," from prōdigium, "omen, portent" — related to the word prodigy.

From Latin iurisprudentia, "skill in law," combining ius, "law," with prudentia, "knowledge, foresight."

From Old French juree, ultimately from Latin iurare, "to swear an oath."

From Ancient Greek antagonizomai, from anti- ("against") plus agonizomai ("to struggle, compete").

From Old French rendre, "to give back," from Latin reddere, "to return or restore."

From Old English uncūþ, "unknown" — literally un- + couth (once meaning "known" or "familiar"). It shifted from meaning "strange" to meaning "crude," since anything unfamiliar seemed rough or unrefined.