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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See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Formed from mayor plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.

From "letter" plus the suffix "-ing," used here in the sense of "the product of an action."

From recreation + -al.

From shop + lift, formed as a noun before the verb "shoplift" itself became common.

From Tinker Bell, the fairy in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, who is famously kept alive only by children believing in fairies.

Possibly from an old personal name Cada, related to a Germanic root meaning "lump" or "swelling"; the sense of "hand-reared animal" grew from there.

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

From Middle English caclen/cakelen, likely echoing the sound itself, related to Dutch kakelen and German Low German kakeln, all meaning "to cackle."

A blend of "heli-" (from helicopter) and "pad."

Formed from "minimal" plus "-ist," on the pattern of words describing an adherent of a style or philosophy.

A compound of paint and ball, named for the paint-filled projectiles used in the game.

In sense “drunk”, circa 1946.

A 1560s alteration of the older dialect word "striddle," related to "stride."

From French strychnine, ultimately from Ancient Greek strykhnos, a name for a type of nightshade plant.

From hypnotic + -ize.

From chemical plus the adverb suffix -ly.

From Sanskrit राजेश (rājeśa).

Borrowed from German Zweig.

From Hebrew "natan," meaning "gave," and closely related to the longer name Jonathan.

From forgetful + -ness.

From Medieval Latin prōmissōrius, built on the same root as promise.

From authentic plus the verb-forming suffix -ate.

From Greek austērótēs ("harshness"); built from austere plus the suffix -ity.