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 doutefulnesse, dowtefulnesse, equivalent to doubtful + -ness.

Borrowed from Spanish grande (adjective), from Latin grandis (“large, great”). Doublet of grand and grande.

From Middle English fornicatour, from Medieval Latin fornicātor.

From Middle English bewepen, biwepen, from Old English bewēpan (“to weep over, mourn, bewail”), from Proto-West Germanic *biwōpijan (“to weep over”), equivalent to be- + weep. Cognate with Old Frisian biwēpa (“to beweep”), Old Saxon biwōpian (“to beweep”).

From French battue, ultimately from Latin battere. Doublet of battuta, which arrived via Italian.

Inherited from Middle English continuaten, from continuat(e) (“continuous”, also used as the past participle of continuaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin continuātus, perfect passive participle of continuō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of continue.

From Cimmerian.

From farm + stead, modelled after homestead.

From crest + fallen, from the appearance of a horse with its crest (head) on its chest after defeat in a battle.

From Middle English despect (“contempt, spite”), from Latin dēspectus (“a looking down upon, contempt”), from dēspicere (“to look down upon, despise, scorn”), from dē (“down”) + specere (“to look at, behold”), equivalent to de- + -spect.

From Ancient Greek ἔντερον (énteron, “intestine”), + -al.

Borrowed from Scots foggie, fogie (noun), perhaps derived from Scots foggie (“covered with moss or lichen; mossy", hence "old, antiquated, decrepit”, adjective), from Scots fog (“moss; lichen”), equivalent to fog (“moss”) + -y. Further origin uncertain. More at fog.

Related to bonzer.

From care (“sorrow, worry”) + worn.

Apocopic form of choda. Doublet of choda and chudai.

From be- + deck. Compare West Frisian bedekke (“to cover”), Dutch bedekken (“to cover, coat, overlay”), German bedecken (“to cover, top, overlay”), Swedish betäcka (“to cover, shelter”). Doublet of bethatch.

From bill + fold.

From false + -ification.

From Latin calx (“lime”). Doublet of cauk and chalk.

From Middle English bewailen, equivalent to be- (“over, about”) + wail.

From beryl + -ium, so called because the element is a key component of the mineral beryl.

From late Middle English comporten, from Old French comporter, from Latin comportare (“to bring together”), from com- (“together”) + portare (“to carry”).

Borrowed from French cachet, first appearing in Scottish English, from 1630.

From codify + -er.