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 trompery, from Middle French tromperie (“deceit”).

From Ancient Greek θαυματουργία (thaumatourgía), from θαῦμα (thaûma, “miracle, wonder”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”).

Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French toquesain (modern tocsin), from Old Occitan tocasenh, from tocar (“strike, touch”) + senh (“bell”).

From Middle English sowrenesse, sournesse, from Old English sūrnes (“sourness”), equivalent to sour + -ness.

From tap + room.

From Tartare + -an, from Latin Tartare (“of Tartarus”).

From tow + boat.

From un- + complicate.

Borrowed from Latin sūdor.

From Ancient Greek τρίπτυχος (tríptukhos, “consisting of three layers, threefold”), from τρι- (tri-) + πτυχή (ptukhḗ, “a fold”).

From some + way. Compare anyways.

From songster + -ess. Compare West Frisian sjongeres (“songstress”), Dutch zangeres (“songstress”).

From Middle English unevennesse, equivalent to uneven + -ness.

From Middle English spenné, from Middle French espinoye (“thorny thicket”), espinaye, from Latin spīnētum (“thorny thicket”), from Latin spīna (“thorn”).

From Middle English trave, from Middle French trave, from Latin trabem, accusative of trabs (“beam, thing made using beams”).

From un- + compact.

From Middle English tan(c)kard(e), denoting 'a large tub for carrying liquid', perhaps related to Dutch tanckaert, from Middle Dutch tanckaert, meaning the same thing, but of uncertain ultimate origin. The OED suggests an alteration of Medieval Latin *kantard, from Latin cantharus (“tankard”). Klein suggests French tant quart (“as much of a quarter”). Meaning "drinking vessel" is first recorded late 15th century.

From under- + active.

From un- + human.

From Medieval Latin Slavonicus, Sclavonicus, from Slavonia, Sclavonia.

From French terrasse (“terrace”). Doublet of terrace.

From ump (“a colloquial name for the dash "—" in Morse code”) + -teen. Unrelated to ump as in umpire, and simply a mnemonic rhyming aid.

From, or as if, trepidate + -ious; see trepidation for more.

From Ancient Greek τόκος (tókos, “childbirth”), from τίκτω (tíktō, “I give birth”).