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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Borrowed from French osier (“basket willow, withy”)

From Late Middle English omnipotens, from Old French omnipotence, from Latin omnipotentia.

From Middle English overberen; equivalent to over- + bear.

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ὀστρακισμός (ostrakismós, “banishment by means of voting with pot shards”), from ὀστρακίζω (ostrakízō, “ostracize”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism”), from ὄστρακον (óstrakon, “clay pot”).

From non- + addictive.

From Middle English oblong, oblonge, borrowed from Latin oblongus.

From odonto- + -iasis.

From non- + free.

From non- + computation.

From note + holder.

From outfit + -er.

From Latin ōscitāns, present participle of ōscitō. Compare French oscitant.

From non- + real.

From non- + empirical.

From norther + -ly.

nonprofessional

From non- + professional.

From Middle English overthwart, overthwert, overtwert, overquert, overwhart, equivalent to over- + thwart. Compare Dutch overdwaars (“across”), Danish overtvært (“across”).

From non- + disclosure.

From old + -bie, coined as an antonym for newbie.

From null + -i- + -verse, coined by William James.

From number + -some.

From Ancient Greek νόος (nóos, “mind”) + -cracy.

Ultimately from Latin nocuus (“harmful”).

From org(anic) + -o.