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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Formed from the phrasal verb "call back."

From sun + tan, tan referring to the browning of skin.

From coincidental + -ly.

Borrowed directly from Spanish churro.

From charming + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

From Latin Adriaticum, named after Hadria, an ancient settlement near the sea's northern shore.

From main + line.

Borrowed from Italian stiletto, from Latin stilus ("a pointed writing instrument") — the same root as "stylus" and "style".

From story plus book.

Likely echoes the sound itself, related to German/Dutch words for knocking or hitting — the same family as "clap."

From categorical plus the adverb suffix -ly.

Borrowed from Dutch heer.

Origin uncertain; possibly related to an Old English personal name or a Proto-Germanic root meaning "rounded."

Origin unclear — first recorded in Southern US dialect. Possible sources include Spanish vamos ("let's go," compare "vamoose") or British dialect "mosey about," meaning to wander at an easy pace.

From inn plus -mate, or possibly in- plus -mate — originally meaning simply someone who lodges together with others.

From Middle Low German grêve, likely related to German Griebe ("crackling" or "cracklings").

From common + -ality.

Unknown, likely from a Calusa word. See Tampa, Florida § Etymology for more.

Formed from certify + -able.

From celebrate plus the adjective ending -ory, following the same pattern as "obligatory" or "explanatory."

From Japanese 死に神 (shinigami), literally "death god."

From un- ("not") plus remarkable.

A compound of "river" and "bed," paralleling similar compounds in Dutch, German, and Swedish.

From Middle English brusket, likely from an Old Norse word for cartilage or gristle, referring to the chest area of an animal.