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 un- + altering.

From un- + bewitch.

Back-formation from troubleshooter; by surface analysis, trouble + shoot.

From Old French tramontane, from Italian tramontana.

From Middle English umbethenken, from Old English ymbeþencan, ymbþencan (“to think about, consider, deliberate”), from ymb- (“around”) + þencan (“to think”), equivalent to um- + bethink or umbe- + think.

From un- + defiled.

From un- + die.

From tote + -er.

Compare trough.

From Middle English unapt, equivalent to un- + apt.

From tube + -iform.

From Middle English uncerteynnes; equivalent to uncertain + -ness.

From Sanskrit त्रिशूल (triśūla).

From tremble + -y.

Uncertain. Likely from or related to tusk + -ock (diminutive suffix). Compare Middle High German zūsach (“thicket”), a derivative of Middle High German zūse (“lock of hair”). Compare also Scottish Gaelic dosag (“little tuft”).

From Middle English uncredible, equivalent to un- + credible.

From Latin trāiectus, from trāiciō: compare French trajet.

From un- + complexity.

From un- + designing.

From under- + promotion.

From un- + crying.

From turn + about.

From Latin transliterātum, past participle of transliterō, from trans (“across”) + literō , from littera (“letter”).