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 English rīdan (\"to ride\"), an ancient Germanic verb shared with words like German reiten and Dutch rijden.

From re- ("again") plus write.

Built from re- ("again") plus wind, going back to Old English windan.

From "re-" plus "set".

From re- ("again") plus sell.

From re- ("again") plus run.

From Old French repaiier, "to pay back," from re- plus paiier, "to pay."

From Middle English ridden, meaning to clear away debris or obstructions, ultimately from Old English roots meaning "to clear."

From the adjective "politic," modeled on Aristotle's ta politika, "affairs of the city/state."

From Ancient Greek demokratia, from demos ("the people") plus -kratia ("rule, power") — literally "rule by the people".

From French capitalisme, built from "capital" plus "-ism." First used in English by novelist William Thackeray in the 1850s.

From re- (\"again\") plus do.

Formed from re- ("again") plus cast.

Formed from re- ("again") plus build.

From Old French rebondir, "to bounce back."

From Old French estayer, "to prop up or support," influenced by the unrelated Old English word for "rope" (stæg) and by Old French ester, "to stand," from Latin stare.

From Latin reportare, "to carry back," from re- plus portare ("to carry") — the same root as "transport" and "portable."

From Old French quitte, "free, discharged," ultimately from the same Latin root as "quiet" and "quite" — the idea of being at rest or settled.

From Old English roots meaning "to push" or "to thrust" — the sense of physically placing something came later.

Developed as the past participle of "preve," a Middle English form of prove, and originally used in Scottish legal contexts — as in the verdict "not proven."

From Old English prōfian and Old French prover, both from Latin probō, "to test, examine, show to be good" — the same root that gives us "probe" and "probable."

A compound of proof and read.

From Old French plaider ("to plead"), from the same root as plea.

From pay + -ed.