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 Latin testūdin- + -eous, from oblique stem of Latin testūdō, from testa.

From Latin sȳcophantia, from Ancient Greek σῡκοφᾰντῐ́ᾱ (sūkophăntĭ́ā), equivalent to sycophant + -cy.

From story + -land.

From spare + -y.

Unknown, but possibly from stodge (“to stuff”), from stog, or a blend of stuffy + podgy.

From Middle English. See etymology of the corresponding sense of strut

1800s. Latin, neuter singular of surrogatus

From striking + -ness.

Deverbal from splash down.

From sun + room.

From Latin stipendiatus, past participle of stipendiari (“to receive pay”).

From sovereign + -ship.

From Greek σουβλάκι (souvláki).

From spine + -ous, or borrowed from Latin spinōsus.

From stump + -er.

From Old French estanson, estanchon, (Modern French étançon), from estance (“a stay, a prop”), from Latin stāns (“standing”), present participle of stō.

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin subsūmere, from sub- + sūmō (“to take”). Compare English consume.

From spread (adjective) + -ly.

Alteration of earlier scunch (“back part of the side of an opening”), short for scuncheon.

From super- + addition.

From Old English stan (“stone”) + feld (“field”).

From still + birth.

From Latin stellio (“a newt with starlike spots on its back”), from stella (“star”).

From sovereign + -hood.