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 "seson" ("time of sowing"), from Latin "satio" ("act of sowing"). The cooking sense developed later, from the idea of a dish being brought to its proper, ripened state.

From Latin dēfīnītiō, from dēfīniō — the same root as "define."

From Latin alienus ("belonging to another"), from alius ("other") — related to English "else".

Sanskrit · 1980

From Sanskrit avatara, "descent of a deity," borrowed into English in the 18th century; the online-profile meaning grew out of its use in 1980s video games.

From home + world, a term mostly used in science fiction.

From Latin "plūrālis", from "plūs, plūris" (more).

From Latin accuratus, "prepared with care," from ad- plus curare, "to take care of" — related to the English word "cure."

Borrowed in the 1830s from German Akkordeon, from Akkord ("harmony, chord"), itself from French accord — the same root as the word "accord."

From Middle English acordingli, equivalent to according + -ly.

From accord + -ing.

From accidental plus the adverb suffix -ly.

From Late Latin accidentalis, based on accident.

From Late Latin accessibilis, based on accessus (see access).

From accept plus the noun-forming suffix -ance, influenced by French acceptance.

From Old French acceptable, from Late Latin acceptabilis, "worthy of being accepted."

From Latin acceptare, "to receive," built from ad- ("to") plus capere ("to take").

From academic plus the adverb suffix -ally.

Built from abysm, an older form of abyss, plus the adjective suffix -al.

From Old French abouter, "to touch at one end," built from but, "end" or "goal" — the same root behind the English word butt.

From French abusif, ultimately from Latin abusivus, related to abuse.

Formed from abuse plus the agent suffix -er, "one who does."

From abundant plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

Formed from absurd plus the adverbial suffix -ly.

From Middle French absurdité or Late Latin absurditas, based on Latin absurdus — formed as absurd plus -ity.