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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A clipped form of "zinfandel."

From Medieval Latin infirmaria, built on infirmus ("weak, sick").

From match plus making.

From sour + dough. The Alaska/Yukon sense comes from Klondike Gold Rush prospectors who carried a pouch of fermented bread starter with them at all times.

From re- (\"again\") plus development.

From Yiddish nashn ("to nibble"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning to nibble or snack.

From "Nick" plus "-son," an altered form of "Nickson," meaning "son of Nicholas."

From Hugh plus the diminutive suffix -ie.

From show + boat.

From Latin Anūbis, from Ancient Greek Ἄνουβις (Ánoubis), from Egyptian jnpw, i-n:p-w-E16

From Arabic مَلِكَة (malika, "queen").

Onomatopoeic, imitating a short puffing or deflating sound.

Borrowed from Burmese wan, meaning "burden, responsibility, or administrative officer."

From re- ("again") plus incarnate, "made flesh," from Latin caro/carnis ("flesh") — the same root as carnival and carnivore.

From methodical + the adverb suffix -ly.

From Portuguese or Spanish pargo, ultimately from Greek phagros ("sea bream").

From un- (\"reversal\") plus zip.

From French hospice, going back to Latin hospitium, "hospitality" or "a place of lodging" — originally a shelter for travellers and the poor.

From untie + -ed.

From Latin renovatio, "a renewing."

A shortened form of "barkeeper," combining "bar" and "keep."

Borrowed from Spanish Ibiza, from Catalan Eivissa, from Arabic يَابِسَة (yābisa), from Latin Ebusus, from Phoenician 𐤀𐤉𐤁𐤔𐤌 (ʾybšm).

From bull + fighter.

From Old French chancelerie, from Late Latin cancellaria — a doublet of "chancery," from the same root.