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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Spelling variant of Rogen.

From Irish Ó hAnnagáin, a diminutive of Annach.

Borrowed from Spanish Cipriano.

Named after Fabian Stedman, the 17th-century English bell-ringer who devised the method.

From Yiddish ספּעקטאָר (spektor), an occupational surname for a teacher's assistant in a Jewish school.

From the Korean surname, from 곽 (gwak). More at Kwak. Borrowed also from Polish Kwak.

Patronymic from Lower.

From Arabic أَنْصَارِيّ (ʔanṣāriyy), from أَنْصَار (ʔanṣār, “helpers, supporters”)

Scottish Gaelic

From Scottish Gaelic cath ("battle") plus the name of the River Cart.

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

From an Old English personal name combined with "healh", meaning a nook or corner of land.

From Arabic "malik," meaning "king."

From Old English ēa (“river”) + well (“spring, source”).

Borrowed from Punjabi ਸਿੱਧੂ (siddhū).

Borrowed from Italian Corso.

Borrowed from French racine, meaning "root."

Borrowed from Cantonese 蕭／萧 (siu1) or 邵 (siu6).

Borrowed from Italian Savino.

From Arabic habib, meaning "beloved" — widely used across the Middle East as a warm term of address.

From Wade–Giles Romanization of Mandarin 石 (shí), 史 (shǐ), 師／师 (shī), 時／时 (shí), 士 (shì), 釋／释 (shì), and 施 (shī). Doublet of Thach.

An anglicized form of Irish Ó Gormghail.

From French Lebeau.

From Dutch Cools.

From Old English wudu (“wood”) + ford (“ford”).