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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

A 1953 variant of "hipster."

From Latin tabula, "board" or "plank."

From Middle English patron/paterne, from Old French patron — the same root as patron, but the two words split apart in meaning over time.

Borrowed from Latin homunculus, literally "little man", from homo ("man") + the diminutive ending -culus.

Shortened form of "homosexual" in one sense; "homogenized" in the dairy sense.

Likely from an old nautical word for a light wind, borrowed into English via sailors' language from a Spanish or French source — the exact trail is disputed by etymologists.

Borrowed directly from Latin opus, "work."

From Latin participare, "to take part in, share in," from particeps, "sharing."

From Old French debatre, literally "to beat down," from Latin battuere, "to beat" — the same root that gives us "battle" and "batter."

From short + the suffix -age.

From Italian torso, tracing back through Late Latin to Latin thyrsus and ultimately Ancient Greek thyrsos ("a ceremonial staff").

From Old French summe, from Latin summa, "highest point, total," from summus, "highest."

From Middle French. Morphologically confront + -ation.

From Portuguese Porto, the city that gave port wine its name.

From Latin vita, "life."

From Greek thesis ("a placing, proposition"), from tithemi ("to place, put").

From French tableau, going back to Old French tablel, meaning a flat surface used for painting.

From Ancient Greek sunopsis, "a general view," from syn- ("together, whole") and opsis ("view").

From Ancient Greek sunthesis, "a putting together," from syntithemi, "to combine" (syn-, "together," plus tithemi, "to set, place").

Borrowed directly from Latin stimulus, meaning "goad" or "prick" — the thing used to spur an ox forward.

From Latin seriēs, from serere, "to join together, bind."

From Late Latin phaenomenon, borrowed from Greek phainomenon, "a thing that appears," from phainein, "to show."

From Late Latin oasis, from Ancient Greek oasis, ultimately from an Egyptian word for a fertile hollow.

From Latin medium, the neuter form of medius ("middle").