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 Middle English tinken, possibly related to "tin" plus a suffix imitating sound, and closely related to "ting".

From Arnold + -ie.

From Art (itself short for Arthur) plus the affectionate suffix -ie.

From Ancient Greek akron, meaning "summit" or "highest point," chosen because the city sits at the highest elevation on the Ohio and Erie Canal.

Named after Camembert, the Normandy village where the cheese originated.

Named after U.S. officer Jesse L. Reno, whose surname's spelling was altered from Renault.

From Middle English Launcelot, from Old French Lancelot, from Frankish *Lanzo, hypocoristic form of names beginning in *Land-, from Proto-Germanic *landą (“land”), and diminutive Old French endings -el and -ot. Related to Old English Landbeorht (modern English Lambert).

Borrowed from German Kant.

From Arabic "kamal," meaning "perfection."

From Old French plater, related to plate, "metal plate."

Borrowed from German Waldemar in the 19th century. Compare Vladimir, from Slavic, and the Scandinavian name Valdemar.

Named after the medieval Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, whose name meant "son of Bonaccio."

From Old High German Haduwig, combining "hadu" (fight/battle) and "wig" (battle) — literally "battle-battle," a common style of doubling-up in old Germanic warrior names.

An onomatopoeic spelling imitating the sound of a roar.

Ottoman Turkish

From Ottoman Turkish aghā, a title of respect.

From "blight" plus "-er."

From Somali Ciise or Arabic ʕīsā.

From the trademark Pampers (Procter & Gamble), which has become a generic word for disposable diapers in everyday speech; the brand name itself comes from the verb "pamper".

Borrowed from Latin Maximus.

A compound of hand and ball, naming the sport by its defining action.

Anglicized from Irish Nóirín, a diminutive of Nóra.

From Tibetan bar do, literally "interval between two [states]."

From New Latin Magellanus, a Latinized form of Portuguese Magalhães.

From the clipping of Amy + the hypocoristic suffix -s.