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 rigid plus -ity, ultimately from Latin rigiditas.

From un- ("not") plus relenting, the present participle of relent, "to soften or yield."

From pin + head, originally describing the literal small round tip of a pin.

Shortened from "oxygen."

From souther + the adjective/adverb suffix -ly.

Coined in 1929 by cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar, from pop + eye.

From Old English *Gārrīċ (from gār (“spear”) + rīċ), from Proto-Germanic *Gaizarīks. Doublet of Gaiseric.

From Middle English unhappily, equivalent to un- + happily.

The -ing form of "suggest," from Latin suggerere, "to bring up from underneath" — the same root idea as quietly bringing an idea to the surface.

Ancient Greek · 1938

From Ancient Greek klīnō, "to lean" or "slope" — coined in 1938 by biologist Julian Huxley to describe gradual biological variation.

From Latin depletio, related to depleo ("to empty out").

From Italian contessa, a doublet of the English word "countess."

From Middle English egged, from Old English ecged; equivalent to edge + -ed.

An initialism of the German name Christlich-Soziale Union, "Christian Social Union."

From Middle English transportyng, equivalent to transport + -ing.

From scold + -ing.

From Ancient Greek Ēlías, the Greek rendering of the Hebrew prophet's name Elijah.

From Ancient Greek Demetrios, from Demeter, the earth goddess, plus a possessive suffix. A doublet of the names Dimitris and Dmitry.

From fry plus the agent suffix -er, "one who or thing that fries."

From hot + headed, the adjective form of hothead.

From Old English hātnes, hot + -ness.

From punch (“short fat person”) + -y.

Alteration or clipping of mama. Compare Scots mam, Early Scots mame (“mother”), mamye (“wet nurse”), Saterland Frisian Määme (“mother”), West Frisian mem (“mother”). Alternatively, possibly either conserved from or influenced by earlier Brythonic language.

From the legendary King Midas of Greek mythology, who was granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold — a gift that ultimately became a curse.