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 Hollier, ultimately from Old French holier ("adulterer, lecher"), reapplied to a female brothel-keeper.

A Scottish surname taken from the village of Auchinleck in Ayrshire.

From Hebrew shirah, "song."

Borrowed from German Spielberg.

Via Latin and Greek from Hebrew קַיָפָא (qayafa).

Borrowed from Irish Éamonn ("Edmund"), ultimately from Old English Ēadmund ("prosperity protector").

Popularized by the character Hermia in Shakespeare's comedy.

Borrowed from French Rachid, itself from Arabic رَاشِد (rāšid), meaning "rightly guided."

From Arabic rašīd, meaning "rightly guided" or "wise."

* As a Scottish surname, from the district of Mar in Aberdeenshire, itself named after the clan (see also Clan Mar). * As an English surname, from placenames derived from Old Norse marr (“marsh, pool, fen”). * As a Chinese surname, Romanized from 馬 /马 (mǎ), see Ma.

A shortened, informal form of juvenile.

Borrowed directly from Hindi बापू (bāpū), meaning "father" — also famously used as a respectful nickname for Mahatma Gandhi.

Transliteration of Hindi विजय (vijay).

A patronymic surname built from the given name Ivan, meaning "of Ivan" or "son of Ivan."

From Russian ха (kha), the native name of the letter.

From singular plus -ity; popularised in its modern technological sense by writers and futurists in the late 20th century.

Formed from energy plus the particle-naming suffix -on (as in "proton" or "electron").

Borrowed from Japanese のぞみ (Nozomi).

A respelling of Casey.

From Sanskrit jaya, meaning "victory."

From Romanian Criș.

Formed from "small" plus the placename suffix "-ville" — made famous as the fictional Kansas hometown of Superman.

Clipping + -ie.

Scottish Gaelic

From Scottish Gaelic, originally meaning "plain, field."