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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As a surname, from Old Norse "lundr," meaning "grove."

From Arabic al-nasr al-waqi' ("the falling eagle"), the old name for the constellation, via Medieval Latin.

From Late Latin prosecutio, from Latin prosequor ("to pursue"), the same root as "prosecute."

Likely borrowed from French putain ("prostitute"), possibly via Louisiana Creole.

From Old English Portland, literally "port" + "land" — land by a harbor. The Oregon and Maine cities were both named after English places.

From Latin agrarius, "of the land," from ager, "field."

A clipped, slang form of "uncle."

By surface analysis, feed + -ing.

From Middle English janglen, "to chatter or argue noisily," from Old French jangler — originally about noisy talk before it settled on the sound of rattling metal.

Coined in the 1920s by a radio officer at Croydon Airport, based on the French phrase "venez m'aider" ("come help me"), shortened to "m'aider" and respelled "mayday" for clear radio pronunciation.

From the phrase "spoil sport," meaning to ruin the amusement.

From Old French incurable, from Late Latin incurabilis, from in- ("not") plus curare ("to cure, take care of").

A dialect spelling of "Indian," first recorded in the early 1800s.

From "news" plus "stand."

By surface analysis, remain + -ing.

Formed from "microscope" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ic."

Simply spot plus the agent suffix "-er" — someone who spots things.

Borrowed from French chichi, a word for fussy, affected style.

From Middle French indistinct, from Latin indistinctus, built from in- (\"not\") plus distinct.

Named for the humming noise made by its rapidly beating wings.

From unequivocal plus -ly.

From "resound" plus "-ing".

From Old French resoner, from Latin resonare, "to sound again" — from re- plus sono, "to sound".

From Ancient Greek tropikos, "of the solstice or a turning point," from tropē ("turn").