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 Middle English eldfader, variant of olde fader, from Old English eald fæder (“grandfather, ancestor”), equivalent to eld (“old”) + father. Cognate with Scots eldfader (“grandfather, father-in-law”), Old Frisian aldafeder (“grandfather”).

Borrowed from Latin eclīptica. So named because an eclipse can occur only when the Moon lies on this plane.

From Ancient Greek ἐκφώνησις (ekphṓnēsis, “pronunciation, exclamation”).

Variant spelling of Ellis.

From dungaree + -s, from Hindi डूंगरी (ḍūṅgrī, “coarse calico”), from the name of a village.

From Middle English expounder, expounere, expowner, expownere; equivalent to expound + -er.

An adaptation of the Latin Ephraimītēs, Ephraimīta, from the Ancient Greek Ἐφραιμῑ́tης (Ephraimī́tēs), from Ἐφραίμ (Ephraím, “Ephraim”) + -ῑ́της (-ī́tēs, “one connected to, a member of”). Equivalent to Ephraim + -ite.

From east + -ing.

From the Renaissance Latin Erasmiānus.

From Latin expōnēns, present participle of expōnō (“to expose; to exhibit, display, set out; to explain”), from ex- (“out, away”) + pōnō (“to lay, place, put”).

From dunce + -dom.

Borrowed from Welsh erw.

From Middle English encrochen, from Old French encrochier (“to seize”), from Old French en- + croc (“hook”), of Germanic origin. More at crook.

From en- + canker.

From fancy + work.

From educate + -ee.

From a Middle English diminutive of the female given name Emma.

From facilitate + -ion. Compare Latin facilitātiō.

From Middle English ely, eiȝely, equivalent to eye + -ly.

From Latin ēversus, past participle of ēvertere (“to turn out, overthrow”); ē- (“out”) + vertere (“to turn”). Compare evert.

From edge + -ways.

From equinoctial + -ly.

everlastingness

From everlasting + -ness.