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 in- + defective.

From French inéligible.

From intricate + -ness.

From jaw + fallen.

From Middle French inutile, from Latin inutilis. Philippine usage is likely from Tagalog inutil, from Spanish inútil, from the same source. By surface analysis, in- + utile.

From late 15th century (early modern English). Formed as inhibit + -ory or adapted from Medieval Latin inhibitōrius and Middle French inhibitoire.

Borrowed from Latin invocō (“I invoke”) + -ory. Compare French invocatoire.

Initialism of jet-assisted takeoff.

From Latin innoxius.

From the minced oath by jingo, which was used in a music hall song, written ca. 1878 by G. W. Hunt, that supported Britain's then belligerent attitude towards Russia. In this context, a euphemism for Jesus, influenced by the meaningless presto-jingo used by conjurors. A connection with the Basque jainko (“god”) has been suggested, but evidence is lacking.

From Juda(ism) + -ist.

Borrowed from French insolation, from Latin insolatio (“a setting or placing in the sun”).

From Latin irruptus, past participle of irrumpō.

From Middle English jawle, chawl, chavel (“jaw, jawbone”), from Old English ċeafl (“jaw, cheek”), from Proto-West Germanic *kafl (“jaw, cheek”). The modern form (for expected chavel, chawl; still found dialectally) is influenced by jaw, which it is a partial doublet of.

From irreversible + -ly or ir- + reversibly.

From jangle + -er.

From kid + skin.

Spelling variant of Jayden.

From Middle English infer (“entrance”), from Old English infær (“ingress, entrance, ingang”), from Proto-Germanic *in + *farą (“a going”), corresponding to in- + fare. Related to Old English infaru (“inroad, incursion, invasion”). Compare German einführen (“to introduce”).

From Middle English *instrewen, instrien, equivalent to in- + strew.

From Old French insensibilité, from Late Latin insensibilitas.

From jerk + -wad.

From keyboard + -ing.

From im- + prudence. From Middle French imprudence, from Latin imprudentia.