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 Latin annihilatio, from annihilare ("to reduce to nothing").

From Latin annales ("chronicles"), from annus ("year") — the same root behind "annual" and "anniversary."

From Latin animositas ("spirit, vehemence"), from animosus, from animus ("spirit, courage, mind").

From Latin animatio, "a bringing to life," from animare ("to animate"), rooted in anima ("breath, soul").

From Latin angularis, from angulus ("angle, corner").

From Old French angoisse, from Latin angustia ("narrowness, distress"), from angere ("to strangle, cause pain").

From Middle English, formed from angry + -ly.

Originally a sailor's word for old bits of rope and cable salvaged for reuse; the meaning later widened to any discarded, low-value stuff.

From Old French torche, probably from a Latin word for a twisted bundle of straw or fibre soaked in pitch and set alight.

From "arch-", meaning "chief" or "most extreme", plus "enemy".

From Old French enemi, from Latin inimīcus, literally "not a friend" (in- + amīcus, "friend").

Formed from "teenage" plus the agent suffix "-er".

From the verb "toddle," meaning to walk unsteadily with short, tottering steps, plus the -er suffix — literally "one who toddles."

From Latin īnfāns, literally "not able to speak" — in- ("not") + fāns, "speaking."

From Old English ġeard ("enclosure, garden, fence"), from a very old Germanic root meaning "to enclose" — the same root that gives us "garden" and "garth."

From Old English stēoran, "to steer or guide a vessel," related to the noun for a ship's rudder — the same root behind the word "stern."

From Latin scorpio, "scorpion," itself from Ancient Greek skorpios.

From Latin aquarius, "water carrier," from aqua, "water" — a translation of an older Mesopotamian image of a god pouring water.

A shortened form of "Anglo-," from Anglia, the Latin name for England.

Borrowed from Latin Anglia, referring to the Angles.

From Old Norse angr ("grief, sorrow"), related to the Proto-Germanic root behind the German word Angst.

From Latin angelicus, from Greek angelikos ("of a messenger"), related to angelos ("angel").

From Old English ancol, from a Proto-Germanic root shared with Dutch enkel and German Enkel — ultimately related to Latin angulus ("angle, corner").

From Middle English auncestrie, from Old French ancesserie, ultimately from the same root as ancestor.