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 dessert + spoon.

cyclohexatriene

From cyclo- + hexa- + tri- + -ene.

From Latin dēlēbilis. See also -ible.

PIE word *wréh₂ds First attested in 1609; calque of French déraciner on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), from racine (“root”), from Latin rādīx, rādīcis (“a root”).

From cram + -er.

From crap + load.

From Middle English depauperat (“impoverished”), from Medieval Latin depauperātus (“impoverished”), past participle of depauperō (“to impoverish”), itself from Latin de- + pauperō (“to impoverish”), from pauper (“poor”). Equivalent to de- + pauper + -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Cognate with Italian depauperare, Spanish depauperar.

Borrowed from Latin crūs.

From cuddle + -some.

From de- + mineralize.

From daydream + -er.

From de- + partition.

From creator + -ship.

From a substantivation of the above adjective. Equivalent to derive + -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Compound of devil + fish.

From de- + baptism.

From crow + keeper.

Deverbal from cut back.

From Welsh cwtsh (“hug, cuddle; little corner, recess”), from Middle English couche. Doublet of couch.

From Middle French débilitation.

Variant of dialogue. Equivalent to dia- + -log or di- + -alog.

From dearth + -y.

From designate + -ee.

From a diminutive form of Dick + -son.