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 Latin abiectus, "thrown away, cast aside," from ab- ("away") + iacere ("to throw") — the same root as "reject" and "project."

From Old French ableté, from Latin habilitas ("aptness, capability"), related to habilis ("able, fit") — the same root as "able."

From the given name Abigail, popularized as a stock name for a waiting-maid in a 17th-century English play.

From the present participle of abide.

From Old English abidan, "to wait, remain, endure," built from a- + bidan ("to wait, bide") — the same root as "bide" in "bide your time."

From Latin abhorrens, the present participle of abhorrere — see abhor.

From Latin abhorrere, "to shrink back in horror," from ab- ("away from") + horrere ("to bristle, be terrified") — the same root as "horror" and "horrify."

From Latin aberratio, "a wandering away," from the same root as aberrant.

From Latin aberrans, "wandering away," from ab- ("away") + errare ("to wander") — the same root as "err" and "error."

From Old English on bedde, "on bed" — the a- prefix here just means "in" or "on," the same pattern seen in "asleep" and "afloat."

From Latin abductor, "one who leads away," built from the same root as abduct.

From Latin abductio, "a leading away," from ab- ("away") + ducere ("to lead") — the same root that gives us "conduct" and "duct."

From Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcō, "to lead away", from ab- ("away") and dūcō ("to lead").

From New Latin abdōminālis, from Latin abdōmen.

From Latin abdōmen, possibly related to abdō ("to conceal"), from ab- ("away") and -dō ("put, place").

From Latin abdicāre, "to renounce or reject", from ab- ("away") and dicāre ("to proclaim").

From Middle French abreviation, from Ecclesiastical Latin abbreviātiō, from Latin brevis ("short").

From Old English abbod, from Latin abbās ("father"), from Greek abbâs, from Aramaic ʼabbā ("father").

From Old French abaïe, from Late Latin abbātia, ultimately from Latin abbās ("abbot").

From Old French abeesse, from Late Latin abbatissa, the feminine form of abbas ("abbot").

From French abattoir, from abattre ("to slaughter" or "knock down") — the same root that gives English "abate".

From Old French abatre, "to beat down" — the same root as "batter."

From French abandonnement, from abandonner ("to abandon"), ultimately from the same root as English "abandon".

From Middle English abandoned, equivalent to abandon + -ed.