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 mal- + union.

From French lorette.

From macadam + -ize, after Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam who pioneered this method of road construction around 1820.

Borrowed from Irish loch (from Old Irish loch), from Proto-Celtic *loku (“lake, pool”), from Proto-Indo-European *lókus (“pond, pool”). Doublet of lay, loch, and Looe.

Borrowed from Afrikaans klipspringer, from Dutch klipspringer, both literally meaning "rock-jumper".

From lustre + -ious, modelled after illustrious.

From list + -ee.

Borrowed from Romanian leu (“lion”), from Latin leō (“lion”). Doublet of Leo, lev, lion, and Lyon.

From light + -ie.

From get one's leg over.

From lug + sail.

From many + -ness.

From lick + penny.

Clipping of mandatory + -o.

Extension (with land) of earlier lubber. Compare also landloper.

By surface analysis, maltreat + -ment.

Borrowed from Hebrew מַמְזֵר (mamzér, “a bastard”).

Probably an alteration of lickerous.

From lumber + mill.

From Middle English lyfy, lyvy, equivalent to life + -y.

From love + -ship.

From listener + -ship (suffix denoting a property or state of being).

Via French knout from Russian кнут (knut), from Old East Slavic кнутъ (knutŭ), from Old Norse knútr (“knot in a cord”). Doublet of knot, node, and nodus.

From Middle English lom, lome, from Old English lām (“clay, mud, mire, earth”), from Proto-West Germanic *laim, from Proto-Germanic *laimaz, *laimô (“clay”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH- (“to smear”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Leem (“loam”), West Frisian liem (“loam”), Dutch leem (“loam”), German Lehm (“loam”). Related also to lime.