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 sublātiō (“removal”).

From stationary or static by analogy with rotor; alternatively from a hypothetical Latin stātor (literally “stander”); all ultimately from stāre (“to stand”).

Back-formation from spellcaster or spellcasting, equivalent to spell + cast.

Borrowed from Arabic سُلَيْمَان (sulaymān).

From spoon + -like.

From Ancient Greek στρόβος (stróbos, “whirl”) and Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō, “examine, inspect, look to or into, consider”). From strobo- + scope.

From stow + -able.

From Latin superērogātōrius (“supererogatory”), from superērogātiō (“payment in addition”), from superērogō (“pay out over and above”), from super (“above”) + ērogō (“pay out, expend”); from ex (“out of, from”) + rogō (“ask; request”).

From special + -ise.

From stuff + -er.

From earlier Dutch succoreye, sukereye (Modern Dutch suikerij (“chicory”)), from Middle Dutch, from Old French cicorée. Doublet of chicory.

From French sur (“over, above”), from Latin super, + title, from Latin titulum.

From sun + blind.

From Middle English spedles, equivalent to speed + -less.

From sub- + imago, after German Subimago.

From variant forms of Ottoman Turkish استانبول (İstanbul), q.v. Compare Scandaroon for Iskenderun.

spontaneousness

From spontaneous + -ness.

From space + farer. Compare spacefaring, seafarer.

From French, from Latin stipula (“stalk (of hay), straw”).

From French subjectivité, equivalent to subjective + -ity.

From spring + -y.

From Latin substantiātiō. By surface analysis, substantiate + -ion.

From strenu(ous) + -osity.

Borrowed from Medieval Latin stapēs (“stirrup”). Doublet of step.