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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Patronymic surname, borrowed from French Adrien. This surname is mostly found in Haiti.

Borrowed from French Adolphe; this surname is predominantly found in Haiti.

From Old English mere (“lake”) + Old English byriġ (“fortified place”).

From spring + field.

From kemp ("to contend or struggle") plus the suffix -er, related to German Kämpfer, meaning "fighter".

From French Strasbourg, from Middle High German Strāzburc. Compare modern German Straßburg, equivalent to Straße (“street, road”) + Burg (“borough, fortified town, castle”).

From French Lourdes; the given name comes from the Spanish epithet of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Lourdes.

Originally a hunting cry, "so-ho," used when a hare was sighted — the district in London took its name from a field where the cry was once shouted.

From Spanish Sámar, from Waray-Waray samad.

From Malay timur, meaning "east".

Transliteration of Hindi समीर (samīr).

Built from brutal plus the noun-forming suffix -ity, tracing back to the same Latin brutus (\"dull, stupid\") root.

From visible plus the adverb suffix -ly.

Borrowed from Latin interceptio, based on intercipere, "to take between."

Modern simplification of Arianna, Ariane and Arianne, all forms of the Greek name Ariadne ("most holy"; Cretan Greek αρι (ari) "most" and αδνος (adnos) "holy"). There has been some confusion with the similar sounding Adriana and Adrienne. * By folk etymology also associated with Welsh arian (“silver”).

From "belt" (something that encircles) plus "way," originally describing the ring road around Washington, D.C.

A modern romanization of Greek daimon, "divider" or "tutelary spirit," kept distinct in spelling from "demon" to avoid the word's later evil connotations.

From clip ("cut" or "move fast") plus -er — the sailing ship sense likely comes from "clip" meaning to move at a rapid pace.

From un- ("not") plus selfish.

A compound of war and time.

From house + guest.

From "cock" (to tilt) plus "eyed" — originally describing eyes turned inward or askew.

Originally a shortened, casual form of the given name "Kevin", which became a stereotype-based slang term in British English.

From the given name Paul plus the patronymic suffix "-son," meaning "son of Paul" — mirrored by Poulsen in Norwegian and Danish, and Pavlovič in Slavic languages.