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 weight + -some.

Borrowed from Middle French Wallon / wallon, from Frankish *walh, from Proto-Germanic *walhaz (“foreigner”). Cognate to English Welsh/Wales, the second part of Cornwall, and first part of walnut, as well as Gaul and Wallachia.

Transliteration of Ukrainian Вади́м (Vadým).

From Latin vāticinātus, perfect passive participle of vāticinor (“foretell, prophesy”).

From un- + witch.

From Arabic وَلِيد (walīd).

From up- + tick.

From vote + -less.

From Latin valētūdin- + -ary, from oblique stem of Latin valētūdō, from valeō + -tūdō. By surface analysis, valetude + -arian. Doublet of valetudinarious.

From un- + friendship.

From Middle French volubile, from Latin volūbilis (“rolling”), from volvō (“roll”).

See webside manner.

From un- + problematic.

Originated c. 1595–1605, verdure + -ous, ultimately from verd (“green”), from Latin viridis.

From war + plane.

From un- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + utterable.

From vent + hole.

From Latin vēna (“vein”) + -al.

From veneration + -al.

From vary + -fy.

From un- + resuscitable.

From venture + -some.

From wagon + master.

From un- + honour.