Etymology — The origins of English words

reliability

Origin

From reliable plus the noun-forming suffix -ity.

Jeanne

French

From French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets. Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.

lunge

Latin

From French allonge ("a lengthening, an extension"), ultimately from Latin longus ("long") — the same root that gives us "elongate."

bubby

Origin

Likely a babyish or affectionate coinage, related to "bub" and "bubba."

Jonah

Origin

From the biblical prophet Jonah, who according to the story was thrown overboard to end a storm believed to be caused by him — his name became a byword for a bringer of bad luck.

Amos

Hebrew

From Biblical Hebrew עמוס (Amos, "to carry; a burden").

Ezekiel

Origin

From Koine Greek Ἰεζεκιήλ (Iezekiḗl), from Biblical Hebrew יְחֶזְקֵאל (Y'ḥezqēl, “God strengthens”).

Jeremiah

Origin

From the biblical prophet Jeremiah, known for his warnings of coming disaster and his mournful writings (the Book of Lamentations).

artificially

Origin

From artificial + -ly.

colonic

Origin

From colon plus the adjective suffix -ic.

churchyard

Middle English

From church + yard, tracing back to Middle English chirch-ȝerd.

blocker

Origin

Formed from block plus the agent suffix -er.

Musa

Arabic

Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew, via Arabic مُوسَى (mūsā); a doublet of Moses.

Donnie

Origin

Diminutives + -ie.

Landry

Origin

French, from the Germanic land, from Proto-Germanic *landą (“land”), + ric, from Proto-Germanic *rīkijaz (“mighty”). Cognate to the Spanish given name Landerico, Landrigo.

Laurence

Latin

From the Latin name Laurentius, meaning "a person from Laurentum," a town whose name may derive from laurus, "laurel."

walkway

Origin

A straightforward compound of walk and way.

Reggie

Origin

Formed from Reg plus the informal suffix -ie.

groaning

Origin

From groan plus the "-ing" ending, describing something that is currently making that sound.

wonderland

Origin · 1865

A compound of wonder and land, popularized by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).

hacksaw

Origin · 1867

From hack plus saw; first recorded in English in 1867.

headhunter

Origin · 1900

A straightforward compound of head and hunter; the recruitment sense is a 20th-century figurative extension of the older, literal one.

bitsy

Origin

Formed from "bits" plus the adjective suffix "-y".

cesspool

Italian

Origin disputed. It may combine an old Italian word for a toilet with English "pool," though several other, more roundabout, theories exist too.