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 Arabic مُصْلَاوِيّ (muṣlāwiyy), from مَوْصِل (mawṣil, “Mosul”).

From mono- + task + -ing, modelled on multitasking.

From Ancient Greek μονότονος (monótonos, “monotone”) + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic”), equivalent to monotone + -ic.

From taxonomic name Myriapoda.

Variant of McAllister.

From earlier mensk, from Middle English menske (“courtesy, honour”), from Old English mennisċu (“the human condition, humanity”) and/or Old Norse menska (“humanity”). More at mennish, mensch.

From mook (“a disagreeable or incompetent person”) + -ish.

From Portuguese melaços or Spanish melazos, from Late Latin mellacium (“must, honey-sweet thing”), from mel (“honey”) + -āceus (“-aceous”) + -ium, q.v. Some alternative forms derived or influenced by Spanish melaza and French mélasse, conjectured to derive from unattested Late Latin mellacea, from mel + -ācea.

From Latin meliōrātiō.

Variant of McPhee.

Variant of McPhee.

From Middle English mercyfulnes, mercyfullenesse, equivalent to merciful + -ness.

From Ancient Greek νευστός (neustós, “swimming”) + -on.

From mis- + computation.

The cloak and card game are named after the English town.

From mis- + solve.

Perhaps a blend of murder + pulverize.

From munch + -able.

From micro- + blogging.

Borrowed from Hawaiian muʻumuʻu.

From mutton + monger.

From Middle English newefangil, neufangel, newefongel, equivalent to new + fangle.

From French négociant, or its source, Latin negōtiant-, probably via Italian negoziante (“merchant”).