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 French patriotique, tracing back to the same Greek root as patriot.

From "patch" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."

From Italian paragone, from paragonare ("to test against a touchstone"), from Greek roots meaning "to sharpen or whet" — the idea of testing something against a standard.

From pap ("soft food") + -y.

From Old French "oistre," ultimately from Latin "ostrea" and Greek "ostreon."

From Middle English overloken, formed from over- + look.

From Middle English outwardes, from Old English ūtweardes; equivalent to outward + -s or out + -wards. Cognate with German auswärts.

From outspeak, equivalent to out- + spoken.

From Medieval Latin originatus, from origo, "beginning" — a later formal verb built directly on the noun "origin."

From on- + an older word "slaught" related to Dutch aenslag/slag ("a blow, a strike"), linked to the same root as the English weaving term "sley."

From Latin officialis, "relating to an office or duty" — built from officium, "duty, service".

From Latin offendere, "to strike against", from ob- ("against") plus fendere ("to strike").

From Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare, "to set one's mind firmly on something", from ob- plus stare, "to stand".

From Old French norriture, "nourishment", from Latin nutrire, "to nourish".

From Old French nourir, from Latin nutrire, "to suckle, feed, cherish."

From nonsense plus the adjective suffix -ical.

From nominate plus the suffix -ee, meaning "one to whom an action is done."

Formed from "noise" plus the adjective ending "-y."

From Latin nōdus ("knot"), also the source of "knot" and "nodus."

From night + fall, on the pattern of the sun or light "falling" away at the end of the day.

From Old English nēdes ("of necessity"), an old adverbial form of "need."

From Latin necessitās, from necesse ("unavoidable") — the same root as "necessary."

From Old English nebb ("beak, nose, face"), related to modern German Schnabel ("beak").

From Old French net ("clean, clear"), from Latin nitidus ("gleaming, shining").