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 "blue" + "-y."

From Middle English recorder, related to record in its old sense of "to practise a tune."

From "radiant" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ance".

From "reach" plus the suffix "-ing."

Formed from "race" plus the suffix "-ing."

From "un-" + "lucky."

Formed from "broker" plus the suffix "-age," which turns it into either the business itself or the fee it charges.

From "di-" (two) plus "lithium", the metal.

A compound of tea and house.

From separate + the noun-forming suffix -ist.

From "stretch" plus the adjective suffix "-y."

From "monopoly" plus the verb-forming suffix "-ize."

From Middle English moderles, from Old English mōdorlēas, from Proto-Germanic *mōdērlausaz, equivalent to mother + -less. Cognate with Saterland Frisian muurloos (“motherless”), Dutch moederloos (“motherless”), German mutterlos (“motherless”), Danish moderløs (“motherless”), Swedish moderlös (“motherless”), Icelandic móðurlaus (“motherless”).

From "father" plus "-less".

From Old French sauver, "to save," ultimately from Latin salvus, "safe" — with the ending "-age" added in English.

From individual plus the noun suffix -ity.

From "tomb" plus "stone."

From Medieval Latin correspondens, the present participle of correspondere — see "correspond".

From defeat + -ed.

From French localité, ultimately from Latin locus, "place".

Formed from overwhelm + -ing.

From Old French renoncier, from Latin renuntio, "to protest against, refuse."

From French depot, "a place where things are set down," ultimately from the same Latin root as deposit.

From Old English fiscere, equivalent to fish plus -er.