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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Diminutives + -ie.

From Middle English mirky, related to Old Norse myrkr ("dark") and the Slavic word family behind Russian mrak ("darkness").

From Middle English harsk, likely borrowed from Old Norse or Middle Low German words meaning "rough" or literally "hairy."

From trick plus the adjective ending -y.

From usual + -ly.

From Latin petra, "rock" or "stone" — the same root behind words like "petrify."

From Old French cure, "care, healing," from Latin cura, "care, medical attention" — the same root behind "curator" and "manicure."

From Old English hǣlan, related to the word whole — to heal originally meant "to make whole again."

From Latin infidelis, "unfaithful," from in- ("not") plus fidelis ("faithful") — related to fidelity.

A casual, clipped pronunciation of "potato" — the same pattern that gives 'mater for tomato and 'naner for banana.

From Latin intellectus, "understanding," from intellegere, "to understand," literally "to choose between" (inter-, "between" + legere, "to gather, choose").

An informal blend of "chill" and "relax", first recorded around the mid-1990s.

From Old Norse illr, "bad, evil," related to Danish ilde and Swedish illa.

From Middle French stupide, from Latin stupidus ("struck senseless"), from stupeo ("to be dazed"). Related to stupor and stupendous.

From Old French obeir, from Latin oboedire — literally "to listen toward," from ob- + audire ("to hear"). Related to audient.

Late Latin · 1500

Borrowed from Late Latin contractor, from Latin contractus plus the agent suffix -tor; first recorded in the 16th century.

From Old French affinité, ultimately from Latin affinitas, originally referring to a relationship formed through marriage rather than blood.

From Greek amphibios, from amphi- ("both") + bios ("life").

From Greek dosis, "a giving," via Latin and French — related to the verb "to give."

From Middle English tagge, "a small hanging piece attached to a garment," likely of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish tagg, "thorn" or "prickle."

From Latin paganus, originally meaning "rural" or "civilian." Early Christians used it to describe country-dwellers who kept older, non-Christian beliefs.

From Old Norse ragnarǫk, combining regin ("gods") and rǫk ("fate" or "judgment").

From Old Norse Eiríkr, from ei- ("ever, always") plus ríkr ("ruler, powerful").

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.