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 weld + -er.

From Middle English forms related to Old English words connected to the dye-plant "woad" — the sense shifted over time toward the modern metalworking meaning, likely through a separate but visually similar word for "to well up" or "swell."

From Middle English weighti, formed from weight plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

Formed from "weapon" plus the collective suffix "-ry," as in "machinery."

From "wave" plus the adjective ending "-y."

From the adjective ware ("aware, cautious") plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

From Old English wana, meaning "lack" or "deficiency" — the same ancient root underlies "want" and "wan," all connected to the idea of something falling short or emptying out.

From Old English wealwian, meaning "to roll," related to Latin volvere, also meaning "to roll" (as in "revolve").

From Old Norse "væla" (to wail), itself from a word meaning "woe" — tracing back to a very old Indo-European exclamation of grief.

From Old Northern French "wageure", related to "wage" — both trace back to a Germanic word meaning "pledge".

From Old French vu, from Latin votum, "a promise, dedication" — a doublet of vote.

From French voluntaire, from Latin voluntarius, "willing" — originally used specifically for soldiers who chose to serve rather than being conscripted.

From French volcanique, ultimately from volcan, "volcano."

From vicarious plus the adverb suffix -ly; vicarious comes from Latin vicarius, "substitute."

From Latin Vestalis, "belonging to Vesta", the Roman goddess of the hearth.

From Old Northern French veil ("veil, shroud"), from Latin velum ("cloth, covering") — a doublet of "velum" and "voile."

From Anglo-Norman veel, ultimately from Latin vitulus ("calf") — the same root that gives us "vitellus," the biological term for egg yolk.

From Old French vassal, going back through Medieval Latin vassallus ("servant") to a Celtic word for a young man or squire.

From urgent + -ency.

From up- + root, meaning to tear something up by its roots or, figuratively, by force.

From Middle English unwrappen, from un- (\"reversal\") plus wrap.

From un- (\"not\") plus willing.

From un- (\"not\") plus well.

From Old English unteald (“not counted or reckoned”), from tellan (“count, relate, tell”).