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 rely plus the adjective-forming suffix -ant.

From rely plus the noun-forming suffix -ance.

From Middle French rempart, "fortification," built from re- ("again") plus emparer ("to fortify or seize"), ultimately from Latin roots meaning "to prepare."

Old French · 1600

Recorded in English since the 1600s, from Old French refrescher, "to refresh," ultimately from re- plus fresche ("fresh").

By surface analysis, refresh + -ing.

Formed from brute plus the adjective suffix -ish.

From dis- + approve.

From French jasmin, ultimately from Arabic yāsamīn, via Persian.

From "magnificent" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly".

Built from "magnify" plus the suffix "-fication", following the pattern of words like "clarification".

From the phrasal verb fall out, combined into a single noun.

A genericized trademark blending "rolling" and "index".

From Middle English gestour; equivalent to jest + -er.

From magical + -ly.

Borrowed from Yiddish tish, meaning "table."

From Middle English chargere, from charge + the agent suffix -er.

Formed from oral plus the adverb ending -ly.

Borrowed from German Jena.

From Late Latin praeparatorius, built from prepare plus -atory.

From mad plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

A straightforward compound of mad and house.

See the etymology at magpie for a related discussion.

From Old French propagacion, from Latin propagatio.

From adequate plus -ly.