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 tireless plus -ly.

From Greek words meaning "tyrant" and "lizard" combined — literally "tyrant lizard."

From sympathize + -er.

From squeal + the agent suffix -er.

From square + -ly, first recorded in the writings of Robert Recorde around 1557.

From electro- ("electric") plus shock.

Formed from electric plus the suffix -ian, denoting a person's profession.

Scottish Gaelic

From Irish and Scottish Gaelic duan, a very old Celtic word for a poem or song.

From "helpless" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

From Old French reconissance — a doublet (a word sharing the same root but taking a different path) of "reconnaissance."

Blend of psycho- and babble, first used around 1975 by writer R.D. Rosen.

From psycho- + analyst.

Formed from western plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "a person belonging to."

From weep plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

From the line you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Borrowed directly from Arabic هَمْزَة (hamza).

An abbreviation of "Multimedia Messaging Service."

From Medieval Latin cotta, meaning "clerical tunic."

From Latin trinus ("threefold"), via Old French trin.

Borrowed from French berthe, itself taken from the given name Berthe (Bertha in English).

Short form of Germanic names beginning or ending in hild (“battle”).

From the Biblical Hebrew name Yoshiyahu.

From Tagalog suman.

Originally read as a blend of "superuser" and "do"; now more commonly understood as short for "substitute user, do."