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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The name Dracula spelled backwards.

From Spanish milla, itself from Latin mīlia ("thousands"), the same root that gives English "mile."

From mask plus the suffix "-ing."

From super- + villain.

From rent plus the agent suffix -er, "one who does the action."

From "re-" ("again") plus "connect."

From re- ("again") plus assign.

From re- ("again") plus assemble.

From re- ("again") plus apply.

From re- ("again") plus "adjust."

From re- ("again") plus "activate."

From dealer plus the suffix -ship.

From Polynesian languages, where it forms a pair with "tapu" (the source of the English word "taboo") — noa marking what is free of restriction.

From "ring" (the circus performance area) plus "master."

From human plus the adverb-forming ending -ly.

From "hideous" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

A shortening of Ronald or Veronica plus the informal -ie ending.

From the English place name Leicester.

From French le roi, "the king".

Formed from stack plus the -ing suffix.

From Sanskrit mitra, meaning "friend."

A learned borrowing from Latin aborigines, plural, "the original inhabitants."

From drunken + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

A clipping of Geoffrey.