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 "second" plus the adverb suffix "-ly."

From Latin "secundarius" ("of the second class"), from "secundus" ("second").

From Old English sithe/sigthe ("sickle"), related to the Proto-Germanic root for "saw." The spelling with a silent "c" was added later by mistaken association with Latin scindere ("to cut").

From Latin Scylla, from Ancient Greek Skylla.

From Latin scrība ("secretary, clerk"), from scrībere ("to write") — a word originally meaning "to scratch," since early writing was carved rather than inked.

From Middle English scribblen, built on "scribe" (to write) plus a frequentative ending suggesting repeated, quick action.

Formed from scratch plus the adjective ending -y.

Formed from scrap (a fight, or a fragment) plus the adjective ending -y.

From Middle English scoulen, likely borrowed from a Scandinavian source related to Danish and Norwegian words meaning \"to scowl.\"

From Old French escoute, \"the act of listening,\" ultimately from Latin auscultare, \"to listen\" — the same root behind the word auscultation.

Origin uncertain; possibly from Old Norse skjóta, "to shoot," or related to older English words for scampering quickly.

From Middle English scof, likely of North Germanic origin, related to Old Norse skaup, "mockery."

From Latin scaena, "stage," from Greek skēnē — originally the backdrop structure behind ancient Greek performers.

From Late Latin scandere, "to scan verse" (originally about checking a poem's metre), from Latin scandō, "to climb, rise."

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

From "scab" plus the adjective ending "-y"; a doublet of "shabby," which comes from the same root.

From Late Latin "sarcasmus," from Greek "sarkasmos" ("a sneer"), literally "to strip off the flesh" — from "sarx," meaning flesh.

From Middle English "sapling," built from sap plus the diminutive suffix "-ling."

A learned borrowing from Latin sanus, meaning "healthy" — the same root gives us "sanity" and "sanitary".

From Latin saliva, "spit" — a word borrowed straight into English with its meaning intact.

From Middle English sailer, built from sail + -or, eventually eclipsing the older word "mariner."

From Middle English saggen, likely borrowed from a Scandinavian source related to Old Norse sokkva ("to sink").

From Latin sacrosanctus, from sacer ("sacred") and sanctus ("holy, made sacred by oath").

From Middle English reuþeles, literally "without ruth" — ruth being an old word for pity, plus the suffix -less.