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 English lāþian, related to "loath" — both trace back to a root meaning "hateful" or "hostile".

From Middle French détester, from Latin dētestor, literally "to call the gods to witness against" — from dē- + testor ("to testify"), the root behind "testify" and "testimony".

From dis- + like, forming the natural opposite of "like."

From Latin persuadere, "to persuade" — built from per- ("thoroughly") and suadere ("to advise, urge"), the same root behind "suave" and "dissuade."

From Latin dissuadere, "to advise against," from dis- ("against") + suadere ("to urge, advise").

From Latin hērōicus, itself from Greek hērōïkós — built from hero plus the adjective ending "-ic."

Formed from "wheel" plus the informal "-ie" ending, common in casual nicknames for actions and objects.

From Latin vividus, "animated, spirited," from vivere, "to live." The felt-tip marker sense comes from the Vivid Marker brand name becoming generic.

From Anglo-Norman paramount, literally "above" — from Old French par ("by, through") + amont ("upward, toward the mountain"). The sense of "supreme" grew naturally out of "above everything else."

From an Old Norse word for a female dog, later broadening in English to mean a mongrel and then, affectionately, a small child.

From Middle French élégance, from Latin ēlegantia, meaning refinement or exquisiteness.

From Middle French elegant, ultimately from Latin ēlegāns, related to ēligere ("to choose carefully") — the same root as "elect."

From class + -y. Piecewise doublet of classic.

Borrowed directly from French genre ("kind, type"), ultimately from Latin genus.

From Old French poterie, from potier ('potter'), ultimately from pot.

Borrowed from Dutch "plug", meaning a peg or stopper.

Borrowed from Italian virtuoso, "virtuous, skilled," ultimately from Latin virtus, "excellence."

From Latin virilis, from vir, meaning "man."

From Old English sceacga ("hair, wool"), related to "shake" and "shock".

A blend of "spy" and "software."

From Middle English nevertheles, built from never plus the plus less; compare the phrase "never the wiser."

Coined by the poet Edmund Spenser in 1596 for his monstrous "blatant beast," likely inspired by "bleat" — the idea of something loudly and harshly sounding off.

From Japanese hanchō ("squad leader"), likely picked up by American soldiers during World War II.

From Old French panel/panelle ("piece of cloth, cushion"), from Vulgar Latin pannellus, a diminutive of Latin pannus ("cloth"). A doublet of "vane."