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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Named after the moorland of the Risem Moor where it is spoken.

From bill, referring to invoices and, separately, to posted announcements.

From Middle English milkinge, the -ing form of milk, itself from Old English meolc.

From snow (verb).

Simply "sand" plus the "-ing" ending, going back to Old English sandiġ-style word-building.

Formed from ball plus the -ing ending, originally describing anything shaped or wound into a ball.

From mind plus the "-ing" ending, forming the noun/gerund of the verb "to mind".

From cock (a male bird, especially a rooster) plus the suffix -ing.

From Old English feorting, the noun form of "fart" with the "-ing" ending.

From re- ("again") plus appear.

From dis- + assemble.

An anglicized spelling of Irish "Ciarán," from "ciar" ("dark, black").

From set + -er, "one who sets"; the dog breed is named for the way it "sets," or freezes, when it scents game.

Borrowed from French individualisme, built from individual plus -ism.

From Old French restauratif and Medieval Latin restaurativus, tied to restore plus -ative.

From Middle English maysterful, built from master plus -ful.

From grill + -ed.

A modern formation from insight + -ful.

A straightforward compound of barber and shop.

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish efendi, itself from Greek authéntēs, "lord" or "master" — making it a distant relative of the English word "authentic."

From "distill" + -ery ("place of").

Origin uncertain, possibly a shortened form of Dutch kajuit ("cabin").

The -ing form of widen, used as an adjective or noun.

From un- + imagine + -able.