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 rear plus view.

Built from insane plus the adverb suffix -ly.

From "spend" plus the agent suffix "-er."

A compound of spit and fire, originally used for a fierce, hot-tempered person or thing before being adopted as the name of the WWII fighter plane.

Formed from hijack plus the agent suffix -er.

From half + wit, first recorded in the early 1600s — someone with only "half" of the mental sharpness expected.

From the Hebrew name Dəlila, thought to mean roughly "she who weakened".

From Hebrew פרסה (parsa), itself derived from the Persian parasang, an old measure of overland distance.

A straightforward combination of big and mouth, used since the 19th century for someone who can't keep quiet.

From cream + the agent suffix -er, "a thing that creams or holds cream."

From Vietnamese hào.

Borrowed from Japanese 長野 (Nagano).

From Middle English, formed from blissful plus the adverb suffix -ly.

Italian · 1895

From the surname of Italian-American actor Rudolph Valentino (1895–1926), famed for his romantic leading-man roles.

From Basque Etxeberria, meaning "new house," via the place name Xavier in Navarre.

From un- + cuff, in the sense of "handcuff."

From "size" plus the suffix "-able."

From Irish Liam, a clipped form of Uilliam, itself borrowed from English William.

From chronic + the adverb-forming suffix -ally.

From principle plus the adjective-forming suffix -ed.

From Mandarin Chinese liang, the standard romanization of a traditional weight-and-currency term.

From Old Welsh, possibly related to gwâr, "gentle."

From Welsh gwen ("white, fair, blessed") + dolen ("ring, bow, hair, brow").

Borrowed from Welsh Gwyneth.