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 sterilis, meaning "barren" or "unproductive."

Borrowed from German Bremen.

From Old Norse á lopti, literally "in the sky/loft".

From Old English loft, related to Old Norse lopt ("upper chamber, attic, sky"), from a root meaning "air" or "sky." A doublet of "lift" and "aloft."

From Middle English lofty, built from "loft" (originally "sky" or "upper room") plus the adjective suffix "-y."

From Latin mulus, via Old English mul and Anglo-Norman mule.

From Middle English clymbere, clymber (“one who climbs, climber”), from climben (“to climb; to ascend, fly upward, rise; to slope upwards; to approach God in prayer; to advance; to overcome, triumph; to aspire; to be presumptuous”) + -er, -ere (suffix forming agent nouns). The English word is analysable as climb (verb) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns).

Borrowed into English in the 19th century, likely via French from a Nepali or related Himalayan word originally used for the red panda, later extended to the more famous giant panda.

From the German place name Brandenburg; the decorative coat-fastening sense borrowed the name because the style was associated with Brandenburg military uniforms.

From Old English hwēol, from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to turn" — repeated to describe something that "turns and turns."

From monitor + -ing.

Coined in German (Graphit) in 1789 from Greek graphein, "to write," because of its use in pencils.

From a Latin name (Hebudes), likely altered by a copying error over the centuries; its earlier origin may be Pre-Celtic or Celtic.

The island name origin is uncertain; the "shirt" sense is an old dialect word of separate origin.

Named after Jersey, the Channel Island where knitted woollen garments of this style were traditionally worn by fishermen.

From Latin reptilis, "creeping," from repere ("to creep") — describing how these animals move low to the ground.

From flight + the suffix -less ("without").

From Old French Gaule, ultimately from a Frankish word meaning "foreigner" or "Roman/Celt" — the same root behind "Wales" and "Welsh."

From Old English stēopdohtor, combining "step-" (bereaved, related by remarriage) with "daughter."

From Old English steopsunu, combining step- (gained through remarriage) with son.

From Old French fermier, "one who rents land" — ultimately from the same Medieval Latin root as "farm."

From Middle English lawiere — "law" plus the agent suffix "-yer."

Borrowed from French basson.

From Old French barbeor, from barbe ("beard"), from Latin barba.