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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Anglo-Norman, from Old French usurier, Latin ūsūra (“interest”).

From Middle English valiaunce, from Anglo-Norman vaillaunce and Old French vaillance.

From Middle English werisom, equivalent to weary + -some.

From Middle English acceptacioun, acceptation, from Middle French acceptacion and Late Latin acceptātiō. By surface analysis, accept + -ation.

Deverbal from walk through.

From villainous + -ness.

From adjective + -ize.

From what + -ness. First attested in 1611.

From Middle English youngling, ȝongelyng, ȝungling, from Old English ġeongling (“a youth, youngling”), from Proto-West Germanic *jungiling, from Proto-Germanic *jungalingaz, *jungilingaz (“young man, youngling”). Doublet of Yngling. By surface analysis, young + -ling.

The noun is from Middle English wāle (“planking, welt”), from Old English walu (“ridge, bank; rib, comb (of helmet); metal ridge on top of helmet; weal, mark of a blow”), from Proto-Germanic *waluz (“stick, root”), from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Akin to Low German wāle; Old Norse vala (“knuckle”). The verb is from late Middle English wālen, from the noun.

Inherited from Middle English weleful. By surface analysis, weal + -ful.

From Middle French vitreux, from Latin vitreus (“glassy, transparent”), from vitrum (“glass”). The terms vitreous (positive) and resinous (negative) electricity were coined in 1733 by Charles François de Cisternay du Fay, who studied the different behaviour of glass and resin when rubbed with silk and fur, respectively.

Inherited from Middle English wydnesse, from Old English wīdnes (“width, wideness”), equivalent to wide + -ness.

From weep + -er.

From a- (prefix indicating a condition or manner) + buzz (“feeling or rush of energy or excitement; major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes”) or buzz (“to show a high level of activity and haste; to communicate in an undertone; to spread, as a report, by whispers or secretly; to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice”).

Modern fanciful spelling of Addison.

From Medieval Latin abbreviātūra, from Late Latin abbreviō (“shorten, abbreviate”). See also abbreviate.

The noun is derived from word + smith (“craftsperson who works metal into desired forms; (by extension) one who makes anything”). The verb is derived from the noun.

Borrowed from Middle French vehement (modern French véhément; compare Italian veemente, Portuguese veemente, Spanish vehemente); or from Latin vehemēns (“vehement; very eager; ardent, furious, impetuous; emphatic”), probably from vē- (“lacking, too little”) + mēns (“mind; intellect; judgment, reasoning”).

From Anglo-Norman acquitance, Middle French aquitance, from acquiter (“to acquit”). Compare later acquittal.

From Middle English unholsom; equivalent to un- + wholesome.

From un- + register.

From Middle English wele, from Old English wela (“wellness, welfare, prosperity, riches, well-being, wealth”), from Proto-West Germanic *welō, from Proto-Germanic *walô (“well-being, wellness, weal”). Cognate with German Wohl, Danish vel, Swedish väl.

From Middle English wode, from Old English wōd (“mad, raging, enraged, insane, senseless, blasphemous”), from Proto-Germanic *wōdaz (compare Middle Dutch woet > Dutch woede, Old High German wuot > German Wut (“fury”), Old Norse óðr, Gothic 𐍅𐍉𐌳𐍃 (wōds, “demonically possessed”)), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂t-ós, from *weh₂t- (“excited, possessed”) (compare Latin vātēs (“seer, prophet”), Old Irish fáith (“seer”), Welsh gwawd (“song”)).