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 Norse Valgrind, from valr (“dead warrior”) + grind (“gate”).

From unravel + -er.

From un- + numerous.

Diminutives + -ie.

From un- + priced.

From French visitant, present participle of visiter.

From un- + synonymous.

From Middle English whilende, whilwende, from Old English hwīlende, hwīlwende (“transitory, temporary, temporal”), from hwīl (“time, while”) + -wende (“moving, going about, turning”, suffix), equivalent to while + wending.

From vertebra + -al.

From un- + familiarity.

From un- + habitable.

untraditionally

From untraditional + -ly.

From villain + -ly.

From un- + pitying.

Borrowed from Arabic وَزِير (wazīr, “helper, aide, minister”, literally “one who bears (the burden of office)”). Doublet of vizier.

From un- + partial.

From a northern variant of Old English hwinsian (“to whine”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwinisōn (“to whine”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīnan (“to whine”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with German winseln (“to whine, whimper”).

From whim + -some.

From vigil + -ous.

From un- + favor.

From usual + -ness.

From un- + forbidden.

Borrowed from Latin viātor (“traveler”).

From un- + obeying.