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 Greek Lakōnikos, 'of Laconia', the region of Sparta, whose people were famous for their extremely terse speech.

A back-formation from juxtaposition, combining Latin juxta 'next to' with French poser 'to place'.

Via French judicieux from Latin judicium, meaning judgement.

From Latin jubilans, the present participle of jubilare, meaning to shout for joy.

From Latin irascibilis, from irasci 'to grow angry', from ira 'anger'.

From Latin invectivus 'abusive', from invehi 'to attack with words', literally 'to be carried into'.

From Latin inundare 'to overflow', from in- 'into' plus unda 'wave'.

From Latin introspicere 'to look into', from intro- 'inwards' plus specere 'to look'.

From Latin insularis, from insula 'island'.

From Latin indolentia 'freedom from pain', from in- 'not' plus dolere 'to feel pain'; the sense of laziness developed from the idea of taking no trouble.

From Latin inclemens, from in-, 'not', and clemens, 'mild' or 'merciful'.

From Latin in-, 'not', and advertere, 'to turn the mind to'.

From Latin ignominia, from in-, 'not', and nomen, 'name' or 'reputation'.

From Greek hēgemonia, 'leadership' or 'authority', from hēgemōn, a leader.

From Greek hēdonē, meaning 'pleasure', with the suffix -ism.

From hackney, a horse kept for hire, hence anything made stale and commonplace by constant use.

From Latin gregarius 'belonging to a flock', from grex, greg- 'flock, herd'.

From German Gestalt 'form, shape, configuration'.

From Latin fluctuat-, fluctuare 'to undulate', from fluctus 'wave', from fluere 'to flow'.

From Latin exacerbare 'to irritate, embitter', from ex- (intensifying) and acerbus 'harsh, bitter'.

From Old French espouser, from Latin sponsare 'to betroth', from spondere 'to promise'. The sense of committing oneself to a cause grew out of the older sense of committing oneself in marriage.

From Latin aequanimitas, from aequus 'even, level' and animus 'mind, spirit' — literally an evenness of mind.

From French ennui 'boredom, annoyance', from ennuyer, which goes back to the Latin phrase in odio (esse) 'to be hateful'.

From French égalitaire, from égal 'equal', from Latin aequalis.