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 Old English ragg, "a tuft" or "shagginess," related to Old Norse rǫgg — the same root that gives us "rug."

From "race" in an old sense meaning a distinctive, characteristic flavor (as of a wine), plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y".

From purpose plus the adjective suffix -ful.

From Anglo-Norman purchacer ("to seek to obtain"), from Old French pur- (from Latin pro-, "forth") plus chacier ("to chase"). Its root sense was "to pursue and get," which narrowed over time to mean "to buy."

Originally referred to rotten wood used as tinder; the sense broadened to mean anything worthless, then to disreputable people, before being adopted as the name for the 1970s music movement.

From Old English psealm, reinforced by Old French psalme, ultimately from Ancient Greek psalmos, "a song sung to harp music."

From Middle English prien, "to peer closely," of uncertain further origin.

From Middle French provocatif, from Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare, "to provoke."

From Old English prūd, likely from Old French prod, prud ("brave, worthy"), from Late Latin prōde, "useful" — ultimately tied to the same root as "pride."

From Old French prosperer, from Latin prospero ("to make happy/successful"), from prosperus ("favourable"), ultimately tied to the Latin spes ("hope").

First recorded in 1535, from Latin prōpāgātus, past participle of prōpāgāre.

From Latin progressus, "an advance," from progredi, "to go forward" — pro- ("forward") plus gradi ("to walk, go").

From Old French poroffrir/proffrir, ultimately from Latin offerre, "to offer" — a distant cousin of the modern word "offer."

From Old French professer, from Latin profitērī, "to declare openly," from pro- + fatērī ("to acknowledge").

From Old French proceder, from Latin prōcēdō, "to go forward" — from prō ("forth") + cēdō ("to go").

From Old French prise, "a taking or seizing," from prendre, "to take" — the same root gives us "surprise" and "comprise."

From Old French priorite, ultimately from Latin priōritās, built on prior ("earlier").

From Latin prīmitīvus, "first or earliest of its kind," from prīmus ("first").

From Latin primaevus, "in the earliest period of life," from prīmus ("first") and aevum ("age, time").

From Old English pryde/prytu, "pride," related to Old English prud ("proud").

From Old French preie, from Latin praeda ("plunder, booty"); related to "predator."

From Latin praevalere, "to be more able, to be superior," from prae- ("before") + valere ("to be strong or able").

From pre- ("before") plus natal ("relating to birth").

From Old French premisse, from Medieval Latin premissa ("set before"), from Latin praemittere ("to send before"), from prae- ("before") plus mittere ("to send").