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 Old French blanchet, a diminutive of blanc ("white"), originally naming a white woollen cloth.

From Middle English bestowen, built from "be-" plus "stow" ("to place or pack away") — originally meaning to put something in its proper place.

From Old English bielġ, meaning "bag" or "bulge" — a distant cousin of "bellows," since both descend from a root meaning "to swell up."

From relax plus -ed, echoing Latin relaxatus.

From Latin basis, from Greek basis, "step" or "foundation" — a doublet of base.

From New Latin bactēria, taken from the Ancient Greek word for a small rod or staff, reflecting the rod-like shape of many bacteria.

From Latin applaudere, "to clap the hands together," from ad- ("to") + plaudere ("to clap, strike").

From Latin altitudo, "height," from altus, "high."

Coined from Latin altus, "high," plus the "-meter" suffix used for measuring instruments.

Short for "Robin Redbreast," itself from the medieval personal name Robin, a diminutive of Robert — the bird was essentially given a human nickname.

From Old French cocu, imitating the call of the male common cuckoo.

From Old English storc, an old Germanic word shared with Dutch stork and German Storch.

From Old French busard, likely from Latin buteo ("hawk").

From Old English īsern/īren, from a very old Germanic and Celtic root for the metal, possibly linked to a Proto-Indo-European word for "blood" because of the metal's colour when rusted.

From Old English betwēonum, literally "by the two" — built from be- and a word related to "twain" (two), the same root behind "betwixt" and "twin."

From Old French contrerole, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus ("a counter-roll used to check accounts"), from Latin contra ("against") plus rotulus ("a roll").

From Old French coler, from Latin collare, from collum meaning "neck".

From Old French covrir, from Late Latin coperire, ultimately from Latin cooperiō ("to cover completely") — built from co- (intensive prefix) plus operiō ("to close, cover").

From Old French agreement, from agreer, "to agree" — built from "agree" plus "-ment."

From Old French base, from Latin basis, from Greek basis, "step" or "foundation." A doublet of basis and bass.

From Old French cler, from Latin clarus, "bright, clear, famous" — the same root as "clarity" and "declare."

From Old English clǣne, originally meaning "pure" or "shining."

From Old English caru/cearu ("worry, sorrow, concern"), from a Germanic root meaning "to cry out" — the word originally leaned more toward grief than the neutral "attention" sense it carries today.

From Old Norse kaka, related to Swedish and Icelandic kaka — an old Germanic word whose ultimate origin is disputed.