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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Simply banish plus the noun-forming suffix -ment.

From energy plus the verb-forming suffix -ize.

From unpleasant + -ness.

From whine + -er.

From white + head.

From "savage" plus the noun ending "-ry."

From Scientology plus the suffix -ist.

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

A compound of shape and shifter, from the verb to shift, "to change."

From off plus line, contrasted with "online".

Anglicized from German Hoffmann, an occupational surname for the manager of a farm or estate.

* A patronymic form of the occupational name Sayer, from Middle English and Old English, and of a Norman given name of uncertain etymology. * An anglicisation of the Irish Saoghair.

A straightforward compound of "ice" and "man" — someone whose job or personality centres on ice, literal or figurative.

Borrowed from Spanish Salamanca.

From Old English, meaning "new work" or "new fortification."

From Italian milanese ("of Milan"), built from the city name Milano plus the adjective-forming suffix -ese, the same pattern seen in "Japanese" or "Chinese".

Coined in 1899 simply by dropping the first and last letters of "croquet."

A compound of "bed" and "chamber" (an older word for "room"), dating back to Middle English.

From refer plus the noun-forming suffix -al.

From ridiculous plus the adverb suffix -ly.

A learned borrowing from Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, from rehabilitāre, "to restore to a former condition."

From nibble plus the -ing ending.

From Middle French réhabilitation, from Medieval Latin rehabilitatio.

Originally named "Trent's town" in the 17th century, after a Quaker, William Trent. The town in Nova Scotia is named after the capital of New Jersey.