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 fers and Old French vers, both ultimately from Latin versus, "a line of writing" — literally "a turn", since a line of writing "turns" back at its end like a plough furrow.

From Latin violentus, from vīs, "strength, force."

From Old English gripan, related to "gripe," both tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to grab or grasp."

Borrowed from Latin costa, meaning "rib" — a doublet of the English word "coast."

From Latin integer, "whole, untouched" — the same root as the number word "integer."

Formed from block plus the suffix -ade, likely modeled on the Dutch or German word for the same idea.

From bound (a limit) plus the suffix -ary.

From Anglo-Norman barrere, ultimately from barre ("bar").

From Middle French moderne, from Late Latin modernus, ultimately from Latin modo ("just now"), from modus ("measure").

From Late Latin jugularis, from jugulum, meaning the throat or the hollow at the base of the neck — related to the idea of a "yoke" resting across that spot.

From Old English glof, from a Germanic compound roughly meaning "covering for the palm of the hand."

From Old French frequent, from Latin frequens, meaning "crowded" or "repeated."

From Old English framian ("to profit, advance"), related to the word "from"; the "structure" sense developed via the idea of building or fitting things together.

Italian · 1500

Borrowed in the 1500s from Spanish despachar or Italian dispacciare, meaning to hurry something along or send it off — likely picked up through diplomatic contacts with Spain and Italy.

From Old English fugol, "bird" — related to the verb "fly," since a fowl was originally just any flying creature.

From Late Latin cooperari ("to work with"), built from co- ("together") plus operari ("to work") — the same root that gives us "operate."

From Old English foreweard, combining fore- ("front") and -ward ("in the direction of").

From Middle English folisch, built from fool + -ish.

From take plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "one who takes."

From constitution + the adjective-forming suffix -al.

From smoke plus the agent-forming suffix -er.

From Middle English toye, meaning "amorous play" or "a bit of fun," probably from a Middle Dutch word for tools or gear — related to the word "tug."

Borrowed via French, with the word ultimately tracing back to a Southeast Asian language.

From Middle English schateren, "to scatter, dash," related to scatter; both likely trace back to an imitative Germanic root suggesting a sudden smashing sound.