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 non- + borrower.

From non- + hereditary.

Borrowed from French oxalique, from Oxalis (“the sorrel plant”).

From Latin nivalis, from nix, nivis (“snow”).

From non- + electrified.

From Humphrey, compare Ned and Nellie, respectively from Edward and Eleanor.

From Middle French obliquité, from Latin oblīquitās, from oblīquus (“oblique”). Corresponding to oblique + -ity.

From nut + bag.

From non- + community.

From non- + trivial.

From omni- + -gamy.

From non- + patronage.

Learned borrowing from Latin nymphaeum, from Ancient Greek νυμφαῖον (numphaîon), a substantivisation of νυμφαῖος (numphaîos, “sacred to the nymphs”), from νύμφη (númphē, “nymph”).

From non- + public.

Uncertain. Perhaps an alteration of nidiot and/or nidget (noun and verb); perhaps connected with midget.

noninterference

From non- + interference.

From French nominalisme. By surface analysis, nominal + -ism.

From non- + accompanied.

From over- + sum.

From non- + liquidation.

A calque of Swedish utrundning.

From oil + seed.

From oct- + -ad.

Borrowed from French oubliette, from oublier (“to forget”).