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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

From Italian Michele ("Michael") plus Angelo ("angel"), referring to the archangel Michael.

Middle English · 1900

A Middle English variant of Randolph, preserved as a surname and revived in the 20th century.

Possibly from Latin caelum ("heavenly"), or a variant of Selene.

From Latin Quīntīnus, a derivative of the Roman praenomen Quīntus, from quīntus ("fifth").

From Welsh eneit, meaning "spirit" or "life".

Diminutive of Rose + -ie.

From French gendarmerie, built on gendarme.

From Scottish Gaelic Eòghan. Not related to Iwan and Evan.

From excellent + the adverb suffix -ly.

From superb + the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

Borrowed via Ottoman Turkish and Persian from Arabic sharba ("a drink"), from the verb "to drink." A doublet of sorbet and sharbat.

From un- + guarded.

From bullshit + the agent suffix -er, someone who does the action.

A straightforward compound of candle + light, dating back to Old English.

A compound of "mid-" (middle) and "field," describing the central zone of a sports pitch.

From in plus box.

From swirl plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

A compound of "sweat" and "pants."

From Italian arrivederci, literally "until we see each other again," from a + rivedersi ("to see one another again").

From the phrasal verb "shut down."

Borrowed from French chopine, an old measure for wine or beer. Also a well-known surname, as in the composer Frédéric Chopin.

Borrowed from German and other northern European languages, a doublet of Anthony.

From Ancient Greek Alexis, meaning "helper" or "defender."

A straightforward compound of "river" and "bank."