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 French commemoration, from Latin commemoratio.

From Latin colossus, from Greek kolossos, "giant statue" — most famously the Colossus of Rhodes.

See classic § Etymology for history. By surface analysis, class + -ical or classic + -al or class + -ic + -al

Borrowed from French classification, ultimately built from Latin classis ("class") plus the verb-forming suffix -ficare ("to make").

From Latin clarificatio, from clarus, "clear."

Recorded from the 1570s, of imitative origin, echoed in German Klang and Danish/Swedish klang.

From Old French clamour, from Latin clāmor ("a shout, cry"), from clāmāre ("to cry out").

From Old French citation, from Latin citatio, built from citare ("to summon" or "to cite").

From Latin circumstantia ("circumstance") plus the adjective suffix "-al".

From Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia — literally "a standing around", from circum ("around") plus stare ("to stand").

From Latin circulatio, built from circulare ("to circulate") plus the noun suffix "-ion".

From French chute, meaning "a fall".

From an unattested Middle English verb *chirpen, related to other words for bird sounds like "chirk" and "chirm".

From Old French cherir, "to hold dear," built on cher, "dear" — ultimately from Latin carus, "beloved." The same root gives English "charity" (in its older sense of loving regard).

Borrowed from French chef ("head, leader"), from Old French chief; the same root gives English "chief" and "captain".

A back-formation from charcoal, formed by dropping the -coal ending.

From Middle English champen, chammen (“to bite; gnash the teeth”), perhaps originally imitative.

From Latin cessatio, related to cease.

From Old French censure, from Latin censura, "the office or judgment of a censor."

From Old French celebration, from Latin celebratio — ultimately from celebrare, "to honour or perform frequently."

From Latin celebrāre ("to frequent, honour, or praise"), from celeber ("crowded, famous"). It replaced the native Old English word fæġnian.

From Middle French cavalier ("horseman"), tracing back through Italian and Occitan to Latin caballus ("horse"). A doublet of "chevalier" and "caballero."

From Old French caution ("security, guarantee"), from Latin cautio, from cavere, "to be on one's guard."

From Middle English catour, "provisioner," shortened from acatour, itself from Old French acater, "to buy."