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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Borrowed from Spanish mamacita, a diminutive of mamá.

From "ache" plus the adjective ending "-y."

From a Miami word meaning roughly "one who carries a pack on his back."

An alternative spelling of Caspar; the city and the cartoon ghost character share the name coincidentally.

Borrowed from French Sacha.

From non- plus fat.

Romanian · 1897

Popularized by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula and F. W. Murnau's 1922 silent film Nosferatu; the word is thought to come from an old Romanian term for a vampire or evil spirit.

From Italian Giordano. Doublet of Jordan.

From New Latin noma, tracing back to Ancient Greek nomē, "spreading (of sores)," from a verb meaning to feed or devour.

A variant spelling of the surname "Burke," used informally as slang for vomiting.

A dialectal spelling that reflects how "partner" is pronounced in some American regional accents, especially the classic Western drawl.

From French tartare, literally meaning "Tartar," referencing the (largely legendary) idea that Tartars ate raw meat.

Simply "yell" plus the agent suffix "-er", meaning "one who does the action."

An acronym of the Swedish company name Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, "Swedish Aeroplane Company."

From Nestor, the elderly and wise king in Homer's Iliad, whose name may relate to a Greek word for "safe return."

From a medieval variant of Richard.

From Latin amo ("love") + deus ("god").

From Japanese, a shortening of katsuretsu, itself an adaptation of the English word "cutlet."

Alternative form of sapa.

From loanin, an alternative spelling of the Northern English noun lonnen + -ing.

A clipped form — the games sense shortens "dexterity," while the drug senses shorten "dextroamphetamine" or "dextromethorphan."

A variant form of Eleanor.

From Latin Sabinus, likely related to a root meaning "one's own" or "kin."

From Old High German ernust ("vigor, seriousness") — the German form of Ernest.