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 assaut, going back to Latin ad- ("towards") plus salire ("to jump") — the same root that gives us "assail".

Built from a- ("without") plus "sexual," from Latin sexus ("sex").

From art (in the older sense of "skill") + -ful.

From Latin arrogantia, from arrogare, "to claim for oneself" — the same root as arrogant.

From Latin arbiter, "a witness or judge" — literally "one who goes to see".

From Old French aprisier, "to set a price on," from Late Latin appretiare, from ad- + pretium, "price."

From Old French apeser, "to bring to peace," related to Latin pax ("peace").

From Greek anathema, "something set apart" or "cursed," from anatithemi, "to dedicate" — later took on the sense of a solemn curse.

Coined in French in 1830 by Auguste Comte from autrui, "others," plus the suffix "-isme"; introduced into English in 1853.

Built from advantage plus the adjective ending -ous.

From Latin philosophia, borrowed from Ancient Greek philosophia — literally "love of wisdom," from philos ("loving") plus sophia ("wisdom").

From Old French surrendre, from sur- ("up, over") + rendre ("to give back, render").

From French troupe, ultimately of uncertain origin — a doublet of "troupe" and possibly "thorp" and "dorp."

From Middle English manhode, built from man plus the suffix -hood.

From Latin validus, "strong", from valere, "to be strong or worth something".

A back-formation from "biceps" — in Latin, biceps is already singular ("two-headed"), but English speakers reinterpreted the final "-s" as a plural marker and invented "bicep" as the singular.

From Old French rechargier, from re- plus chargier ("to load").

A back-formation from "fusion," originally used as a verb meaning "to melt."

Origin uncertain; possibly from a German pet name for lapdogs.

From Middle English chymbe, likely traced back to Latin cymbalum, "cymbal".

A straightforward compound of "eye" + "ball," describing the round shape of the organ.

From Old English tōweard, formed from to plus the suffix -ward, meaning "in the direction of."

From "side" plus the directional suffix "-ways".

From Old English awiht, a compound of a- ("ever") and wiht ("thing, creature") — literally "any thing."