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 belligerent + -ence.

From labyrinth + -ine from Ancient Greek λᾰβύρῐνθος (lăbúrĭnthos, “a maze”).

Borrowed from French civiliser, corresponding to civil + -ize.

From Middle English forwarning, equivalent to forewarn + -ing or fore- + warning. Cognate with German Vorwarnung (“forewarning”), Swedish förvarning (“forewarning”).

From Middle English dirige, from Latin dirige (“steer, direct”), from the beginning of the first antiphon in matins for the dead, Dirige, Domine, deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam. Doublet of dirige.

Deverbal from jerk off (“to masturbate”).

From Middle English materialy; equivalent to material + -ly.

From Middle English copies, from Old French copeiz (“a cut-over forest”), from presumed Vulgar Latin *colpaticium (“having the quality of being cut”), from *colpāre (“to cut, strike”), from *colpus (“a blow”), from Latin colaphus (“a cuff, box on the ear”), from Ancient Greek κόλαφος (kólaphos, “a blow, slap”).

From French gratifier, from Latin grātificō (“to do a favor to, oblige, please, gratify”), from grātus (“kind, pleasing”) + faciō (“to make”).

From Latin residuum. Doublet of residue.

Existing in English since the 17th century; borrowed from Latin scintilla (“spark”).

From Middle English copyousnesse, equivalent to copious + -ness.

From Middle English bir (“favorable or strong wind”), from Old English byre (“strong wind, storm”); cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk bør, Icelandic byrr (“sailing winds”), Albanian borë (“snow”), and Polish burza (“storm, thunderstorm”).

From pace + setter.

From stilt + -ed.

From Middle English quietnes, quietnesse, quietenesse, qwietnesse, qwietenesse, equivalent to quiet + -ness.

Borrowed from Latin recuperātiō. By surface analysis, recuperate + -ion.

From Middle English arang and French harangue, from Old Italian aringa (modern Italian arringa) from aringare (“speak in public”) (modern Italian arringare), from aringo (“public assembly”), from Gothic *𐌷𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (*hriggs) or a compound containing it, akin to Old High German hring (“ring”) (whence German Ring). Doublet of range, rank, ring, and rink.

Inherited from Middle English joynture, from Old French jointure, from Latin iūnctūra. Doublet of juncture.

From Middle English substantif, from Old French substantif.

From kind + hearted.

From oft + times.

From Middle English slaken (“to render slack, to slake”), from Old English sleacian, from Old English slæc (“slack”). Unrelated to, but possibly influenced by, the Old Norse sløkkva (“to extinguish”), compare Swedish släcka in the phrase släcka sin törst (“quench one's thirst”), släcka elden (“put out the fire”), and släckt kalk (“slaked lime”).

From oneir- + -ism.