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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A compound of loud and speaker, referring to a speaker built specifically to produce sound at high volume.

From French mascotte, "charm" or "lucky object," ultimately from an Occitan word for "witch."

From gun + point (the tip/muzzle a gun is aimed with).

From hot + line.

From Latin medicus, "physician," from mederi ("to heal").

From drain + -ed.

From Nepali वाँ दोन्काँ (wā̃ donkā̃).

A combination of "work" and "place."

American Southern slang from the 1800s, likely blending "bold" and "audacious."

The weight sense comes from the Malay word kati.

A straightforward compound of rod (the measuring staff) and man.

From Hebrew "Immanu El," meaning "God is with us."

Formed from the adjective tardy plus the noun-forming suffix -ness.

From re- ("again") plus start.

From Persian pari via Ottoman Turkish peri, denoting a supernatural winged being in Persian myth.

From sink plus hole.

From "scheme"/"schema" plus the suffix "-atic".

From Old French scandaleux, ultimately from the same Latin/Greek root as "scandal."

From New Latin prostheticus, from Ancient Greek prosthetikós ("adding, giving extra power"), tied to the same root as prosthesis.

From "portray" plus the suffix "-al."

From Latin cohaesus, past participle of cohaerere, "to stick together," + -ive.

From "pre-" ("before") plus "school."

From Italian provolone, an augmentative (bigger version) of provola, an earlier type of cheese.

Formed by back-formation from "hunchbacked."