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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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Variant of Dutch Lievers.

From Sanskrit चारु (caru), meaning "beautiful" or "pleasant."

Borrowed from Japanese 塚本 (Tsukamoto).

Transliteration of Hindi विनोद (vinod), Gujarati વિનોદ (vinod), etc.

From Latin Euander, from Ancient Greek Εὔανδρος (Eúandros, literally “good man”).

Variant of Guilfoyle.

An anglicized spelling of the Slavic surname Pavlović.

Borrowed from Italian Niro, from Neapolitan niro (“black”).

Various origins: * Borrowed from Polish Miś, a pet form of Michał or a nickname from miś (“bear”). * Borrowed from Slovene Miš, a nickname from miš (“mouse”). * Borrowed from Dutch Mis, a reduced form of the personal name Amijs. * Borrowed from Yucatec Maya Mis; this surname is predominantly found in Yucatán.

Borrowed from Hindi śītal.

Americanized spelling of German Kosch.

Borrowed from Russian Орлов (Orlov), related to орёл ("eagle").

Anglicized form of Irish Mac Fhionnachtaigh (“son of Fionnachtach”), a variant of the personal name Fionnshneachtach, which is composed of the elements fionn (“fair”) and sneachtach (“snowy”).

Borrowed from Dutch Groot.

From Sanskrit दशा (daśā), meaning "state" or "condition."

Borrowed from German Münchausen.

Borrowed from Italian Cappella.

Borrowed from German Jabs.

Borrowed from Japanese よういち (Yōichi).

From Manipuri ꯈꯨꯟ (khun).

From the French town of the same name.

Plural form of neighbor, from Old English nēahgebūr ("near dweller"); the word is also found as a patronymic surname.

Variant of Rishworth.

From Latin Otho.