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 Middle English unequale, from un- ("not") plus equal.

From Old French percevoir, from Latin percipere ("to grasp, seize"), built from per- ("thoroughly") and capere ("to take") — the same root that gives us "capture" and "receive".

From Latin auctio, "an increase," from augere, "to increase" — because the price climbs as people bid.

From Old French credence, tracing back to Latin credentia ("belief"), from credere, "to believe" — the same root that gives us "credit" and "creed".

Borrowed via French from Latin credibilitas, ultimately from credere, "to believe" — built on the same root as "credible" and "credit".

From Latin cumulare, "to heap up," from cumulus, "a heap" — the same root behind the cloud type "cumulus."

From Medieval Latin situatio, "position," from Latin situs, "a site."

From Old French purposer ("to propose"), ultimately from Latin prōpōnere ("to put forth"), from prō- ("forth") plus pōnere ("to place").

From Middle French, ultimately from Ecclesiastical Latin "transformatio"; built from "transform" plus "-ation."

From Old French "transformer," from Latin "transformare" — "trans-" ("across") plus "forma" ("form").

From Latin ēvolūtiō, "the unrolling (of a scroll)," from ēvolvere, "to unroll or unfold."

From Latin ēvolvere, "to unroll or unfold," from ē- ("out") + volvere ("to roll").

From Old French confirmacion, from Latin cōnfirmātiō, "a strengthening" — built from confirm + -ation.

From Old French confermer, from Latin cōnfirmāre, "to make firm" — from con- + firmāre ("to strengthen").

From Middle French conformité, built on conform + the noun-forming suffix -ity.

From Middle French conformer, from Latin conformare, "to shape something to match a pattern" — from com- ("together") + formare ("to form").

From Old English formest, meaning "earliest" or "most prominent," ultimately linked to the words for and first.

From Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf ("hook").

From Middle English levene, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly going back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "bright, to shine."

From French culte, from Latin cultus ("care, worship"), from colere ("to cultivate, tend").

From Anglo-Norman cunseiler, ultimately from Latin cōnsilium ("advice, plan").

From Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium, related to cōnsulō ("to consult, take counsel").

From Old French porcion, from Latin portionem ("a share, part"), related to pars ("part").

From Greek parōidia, from para- ("beside") + ōidē ("song") — literally a "counter-song."