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 Kenneth or Ken + -y (diminutive form).

From geography plus the adjective suffix -ical.

From Greek haima ("blood") plus the medical suffix -oma, which usually marks a tumor or growth — hematoma is one of the rare exceptions where -oma doesn't mean cancer.

From Greek σίφων (síphōn, "pipe, tube"), via Latin and Old French.

From Italian nepotismo, based on Latin nepos ("nephew") — a reference to popes historically appointing their nephews to powerful church positions.

From colonize plus the noun suffix -ation.

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

From Latin adolescentia, from adolescens ("growing up") — the same root as adolescent and adult.

A compound of "ear" and "drum", named for its drum-like membrane.

From Old French incontinent, from Latin incontinens, from in- ("not") plus continens ("holding together, restrained").

From Old English roots meaning "to sound" or "ring," related to "cling" (in the sound sense) and "clang" — likely imitative of the noise metal makes striking metal.

From French succulent, from Latin succulentus ("juicy"), from succus ("juice, sap").

Derived from d'Airel, a Norman family name from a place in Calvados, France.

From nose + -y, the idea of "poking your nose" into other people's business.

From involve + -ed.

From Latin clementia, "mildness, mercy," related to clemens ("merciful").

From Old English āc ("oak") + lēah ("woodland clearing").

Borrowed from French merci ("thank you"), a doublet of the English word "mercy" — both trace back to Latin mercedem, "reward" or "favour."

From French paralyser, ultimately from the same Greek root as "paralysis."

From Old Italian porcellana, originally meaning "cowrie shell" — the material was named for its resemblance to the glossy surface of the shell.

From Latin persuadere ("to persuade") plus the adjective ending -ive.

A blend of "jail" and "bird" dating to around 1600, on the same pattern as the older "gallows bird" (someone destined for the gallows).

From earn plus the plural noun ending -ings.

From Old English līflād, literally "course of life," later reshaped under the influence of the word "lively."