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

A Latin form of the Greek name Helen, made famous by Saint Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine.

From Middle English byndere, simply "bind" plus the agent suffix "-er" — someone or something that binds.

From grass + land.

From Old French, ultimately from Frankish elements meaning "spear" and "power," brought to England by the Normans.

From "slice" plus the agent suffix "-er."

From Late Latin cōnfoederātus, "bound together by treaty" — from con- ("together") + foederāre ("to establish a league").

From Latin pictor ("painter") plus the adjective ending "-ial", built on the same root as "picture".

From Middle English hyghnesse, built from high plus the noun-forming suffix -ness.

From Old French comandement, from comander ("to command").

From Latin oceanicus, from Oceanus — see "ocean".

From store plus front.

A straightforward compound of "rain" and "coat" — a coat for the rain.

Borrowed from Japanese tenpura, itself from Portuguese — most likely from tempero/temperar ("to season"), brought to Japan by Portuguese missionaries who fried fish and vegetables during Catholic fasting periods known as Ember days.

From "enrage" (en- + "rage"), formed in Middle English by adding the verb-forming prefix en- to the noun rage.

From "road" + "side," describing the strip of land bordering a road.

Formed from "blind" plus the adverb ending "-ly," which turns the adjective into a description of how something is done.

From Old English fægernes, "beauty, pleasantness," built from "fair" plus the suffix "-ness."

From Latin Augusta, the feminine form of Augustus.

From Old English "sǣwæter," a straightforward combination of sea and water.

From "joint" plus the adverb-forming ending "-ly."

The past-tense form of "chill" plus -ed, from Middle English chelle/chille.

From Old English hreoh (\"rough, stormy\") plus the suffix -ness, which turns an adjective into a noun.

From "reckless" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ness."

From bath + tub.