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 symbol + -ization or symbolize + -ation.

First attested circa 1608. An early spelling was tatter-de-mallion, rhymed with Italian. The first part of the word is tatter; the origin of the second part is uncertain; Ebenezer Cobham Brewer suggested it might be from de maillot (“shirt”).

Blend of three + repeat.

From New Latin synopticus, from Ancient Greek συνοπτικός (sunoptikós, “seeing the whole together or at a glance”), from σύνοψις (súnopsis, “a general view, synopsis”), from συν- (sun-, “with”) + ὄψις (ópsis, “view”).

Blend of television + screenplay.

From a variant of tidder. See tid.

From techno- + -phile.

From techno- + -phobe.

From techno- + -cratic.

From text + phone.

From thick + shake.

A style of Diana in Ovid, fem. of titanius, from Titan. As faeries were identified with Classical nymphs, the queen of the faeries was equated with Diana.

From topo- + -graph.

From techno- + self.

From thorough + breed.

From Middle English swengen (“to strike”), from Old English swenġan (“to dash, strike; to cause to swing”), from Proto-West Germanic *swangijan (“to cause to swing”).

A borrowing into English of the Australian aboriginal name for the animal.

Borrowed from Hindustani (Hindi तवायफ़ (tavāyaf) / Urdu طَوائِف (tavāif)), in turn derived from Classical Persian طَوَائِف (tawā'if), ultimately derived from Arabic طَوائِف (ṭawāʔif).

From Ancient Greek συν- (sun-, “with, together”), having the same function as co- (“synthesis, synoptic”).

From Middle English titmose, compound of tit (“small bird”) and mose, from Old English māse (“titmouse”), from Proto-West Germanic *maisā, from Proto-Germanic *maisǭ (compare Dutch mees, German Meise, Old Norse meisingr, French mésange), from *maisaz (“tiny, puny”) (compare Norwegian meis (“skinny weakling”)). Spelling as well as the plural form in imitation of the otherwise unrelated mouse.

From Tantalus + -ise, see tantalize.

Ancient Greek τέκτων (téktōn, “builder”).

From Middle English thoughty, thoghty, equivalent to thought + -y. Cognate with Scots thochty, thouchty (“thoughty”), Dutch gedachtig (“thoughty”), German gedächtig (“suspicious”).

From Thomas + -son. Literally, “son of Thomas”.