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 Latin exuberare, "to grow abundantly" — from ex- ("out") + uber ("udder"), originally describing an animal producing milk so freely it overflows.

From Middle English boistous, "rough" or "crude" — its exact origin before that is uncertain, though it may trace back to an Old French word for something rough or uneven.

From Middle English horsman — simply horse plus man.

Borrowed from French incompatible, from in- ("not") + compatible.

From Old French immunite, from Latin immunitas; immune plus -ity.

From Latin infantilis, "pertaining to an infant," from īnfāns.

From French initiative, ultimately from Latin initium, "a beginning."

Named after Melton Mowbray, the English town where the fabric was originally produced.

Shortened from "Brahmaputra fowl," named for the river region the breed came from.

Formed to match "descent," on the model of the verb pair ascend/descend.

From Medieval Latin sedativus, from the same root as "sedate" — Latin sedare, "to calm."

From Japanese 神道 (Shintō), literally "way of the gods," borrowed from Chinese roots meaning "ways of the gods."

Of uncertain origin, possibly linked to "Silesia," a region once known for producing thin, low-quality cloth.

From Latin sollicitātiō, related to solicit.

Formed from stealth + -y.

From Latin supervisio.

From Middle English foot path, foot + path.

From Middle English "see seke" — literally "sea-sick," combining sea and sick.

From Latin suppressio, from supprimere ("to press down").

From Latin scalpellum, a diminutive of scalprum, "knife," from scalpere, "to cut."

From Middle English wrongfully, wrongfullich; equivalent to wrongful + -ly.

From French adaptation, from Latin adaptatio, built on adaptare, "to fit to."

From French communal, from Late Latin communalis, from communis ("common").

From Old French continuel, from Latin continuus ("continuous") plus the suffix -el.