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 "season" plus the adjective suffix "-al."

Probably an alteration of the 1920s slang word "goofus," shaped by a Scots word meaning "simpleton."

From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens, from in- ("not") + differens ("differing").

From Latin callosus ("thick-skinned"), from callum ("hardened skin").

From Latin complicatus, "folded together," from com- ("together") + plicare ("to fold") — the same root that gives us "complex" and "plait."

From Old French saillir, "to leap out," from Latin salire, "to jump."

From Old French pensif, "thoughtful," from penser, "to think" (from Latin pēnsāre).

From Middle English bakwarde, formed from back plus the directional suffix -ward, meaning "in the direction of the back."

From "embarrass" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ment".

From chop plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "thing that chops."

From Old English blysian ("to be red, to shine"), ultimately related to words for "torch" and "burning."

Formed from "boor" plus the adjective suffix "-ish."

From an older Middle English word meaning "curled" or "curly," likely related to a Middle Dutch word for "curl."

From Middle English bosten, likely from a Germanic root meaning "inflated" or "puffed up" — the same idea behind being full of yourself.

From Latin resplendere, "to shine back, glitter," from re- ("back") plus splendere ("to shine").

From Latin constantia, "standing firm" — the same root as "constant."

From Old French contendre, from Latin contendere, "to stretch out, strive" — con- ("together") + tendere ("to stretch"), related to "tend," "extend," and "intend."

From Old French contraire, from Latin contrarius ("opposite, opposed"), from contra ("against").

From Old French convertir, from Latin convertere, "to turn around" — from con- + vertere ("to turn").

Possibly from Malay kampung, "a group of buildings or village," reshaped over time under the influence of the unrelated English word meaning "to combine," from Latin componere.

From Old French complaindre, from Latin plangere, "to beat the breast in grief" — the same root as "plaintive" and "plaint."

From Old French confondre, from Latin confundere, "to pour together, mix up" — the same root that gives us "confuse".

Shortened from "magpie" plus the diminutive ending -ie; unrelated to the given name Maggie, which is a nickname for Margaret.

From Old English Scottas, "people from Ireland" (later Scotland), from Late Latin Scotti.