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

Borrowed directly from French, the feminine form of marquis.

An onomatopoeic word imitating a bright, ringing sound.

From honor + -ary, modeled on French honoraire, from Latin honorarius.

From un- + interrupted.

From the same root as "exhaust" — the idea of thoroughness comes from treating a subject until nothing is left to add.

From stair plus well, in the sense of a vertical shaft.

As a German/Dutch surname, from Linde ("linden tree"); as a Spanish surname, from linde ("boundary, edge").

From "decay" + "-ing."

From concrete plus the adverb suffix -ly.

Borrowed from French Marseille (supplanting earlier Marseilles, derived from the Old French nominative form), from Latin Massilia, Marsilia, from Ancient Greek Μασσαλία (Massalía), probably from a pre-Latin language of Italy, perhaps Ancient Ligurian mas (“spring”). The r was probably retained from Arabic مَرْسَى (marsā, “harbor”).

From Old English heafodbend, "head" plus "band."

From hare + brained, likening a foolish idea to the supposedly erratic behaviour of hares.

From the German and Jewish surname, from both senses of the noun Krug (“jug”) and Krug (“pub, tavern”). Compare Krueger.

From German Kraft, meaning "strength" — the paper is named for its notable durability.

The team name comes from "Knickerbockers," referencing the same fictional Diedrich Knickerbocker used to describe old New Yorkers.

Named after the French town of Vichy, from Occitan Vichèi, itself derived from a Latin place name.

From the French place name Versailles, of disputed origin, possibly linked to an old word meaning "to turn".

Borrowed from Italian Fina.

Medieval English form of Old French saints' name Giles, modern Gilles, an altered form of Latin Aegīdius, from Ancient Greek Αἰγίδιος (Aigídios), derivative of αἰγίδιον (aigídion, “kid, young goat”).

From Italian madonna, literally "my lady" (ma + donna).

A compound of sign and post.

From Middle French diversifier, built from diverse plus the verb-forming suffix -ify.

Attested in the mid‐16th century; from Latin investigator, from investigare, equivalent to investigate + -or.

From Hindi बिहारी (bihārī), derived from the place name Bihar.