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 "folks" plus the adjective ending "-y."

From Spanish cuatro ("four"), referring to its traditional four strings.

From Latin Draco, borrowed from Ancient Greek Drakōn, "dragon" or "serpent."

From Old French moralité, from Late Latin mōrālitās, from Latin mōrālis, "relating to manners or morals."

From Italian trillo/trillare, borrowed into Middle English as trillen.

From Medieval Latin filtrum, related to Old French feutre ("felt"), since early filters were made from felted material.

From Middle English inkeper, simply inn plus keeper.

Borrowed from Latin bonus, meaning "good."

From Latin filialis, built on filius ("son") and filia ("daughter"), plus the adjective ending -alis.

From Latin decimus, "tenth," from decem, "ten."

From French claire, the feminine form of clair ("clear").

From Latin Paulus, related to paulus meaning "small." A doublet of the names Pablo and Paolo.

From Medieval Latin visceralis, "internal," from Latin viscera, "internal organs."

From Latin media, the plural of medium ("middle" or "a means"), borrowed into English as a collective term for channels of mass communication.

From leg plus -less, "without".

From right plus the informal suffix -o.

An onomatopoeic word imitating a dog's bark.

Directly from Latin pax, "peace" — a doublet of the English word "peace" itself.

From Greek psykhē ("soul, mind"), also the name of a mythological princess loved by Cupid.

From Ancient Greek Kuklops, meaning literally "round-eyed," referring to the single round eye of the mythological giants.

From Anglo-Norman emprisonement; see imprison + -ment.

From Old French felonie ("wickedness, evil deed"), from felon ("evildoer").

From mis- + demeanor.

From Old French edifice, from Latin aedificium ("building"), from aedificare ("to build") — the same root gives us "edify."