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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Shortened from "public house."

From Old English hōp, meaning a curved or circular object, related to an old Germanic root for "bend."

From neutral plus the particle-naming suffix -on. Coined in 1899, though the modern meaning was firmly established by Ernest Rutherford in 1920.

Coined in 1920 by physicist Ernest Rutherford from Greek prôton, "first thing," echoing the earlier-named electron.

From Old English lǣdere, "leader" — from the same root as "lead" (to guide) plus the agent suffix "-er."

From Latin gubernator, "steersman" or "pilot", from the same Greek root as "govern".

Coined in English in 1949 by physician David Oliver Cauldwell, adapting the German term Transsexualismus coined by Magnus Hirschfeld in 1923.

Borrowed via Persian from a word meaning "of India."

A straightforward compound of "boy" and "friend," used since the 19th century for a male romantic partner.

A straightforward compound of girl + friend, formed in English.

From Middle English mokken, via Old French mocquer ("to deride, jeer"), probably ultimately echoing a Germanic word for mumbling or muttering under one's breath.

From Old English bend and reinforced by Old French bande, both descending from a Proto-Germanic word for "binding" — related to "bind" and "bond."

From French civilisation, from civil plus -isation.

From French civilisation, built from civilize plus -ation.

From French thermometre, built from thermo- ("heat") plus -meter ("measure").

From Latin eloquentia, from eloqui, "to speak out."

Borrowed from the Manchu word manju, likely rooted in an old Tungusic term connected to the Amur River.

Germanic · 1797

The unit is named after the American scientist Joseph Henry (1797-1878); the given name comes from Germanic roots meaning roughly "ruler of the home".

Coined in French by chemists Guyton de Morveau and Lavoisier from Greek hydro- ("water") plus -gene ("producer of"), because burning hydrogen produces water.

From Old English "geonre" ("yonder"), built on the same root as "yon" plus the comparative ending seen in "hither" and "thither."

From Old English "geon," related to modern German "jener" ("that one").

From Old English cynn, "kind, sort, family," from a very old Germanic root also behind "kind" and, further back, related to Latin genus.

From Old English ġimstān, a compound of gem and stone.

From Old English ġimm and Old French gemme, both ultimately from Latin gemma, meaning a jewel or a swelling bud on a plant.