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Jun 6, 2023 · 7. Pandemonium. John Milton constructed the word pandemonium out of the Greek root Pan-, or “all,” and daemonium, from the Latin for “evil spirit.”. The pandemonium in Paradise Lost was a ...
- English Word Origins: Greek
- English Word Origins: Latin
- English Word Origins: Old Norse
- English Word Origins: French
- English Word Origins: Italian
- English Word Origins: Arabic
- English Word Origins: Spanish
- English Is Always Growing
- How Learning Word Origins Can Improve Your English
- Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
1. Phone
Meaning: A phoneis a device that’s used to communicate with people from a distance (you might be using a phone to read this!). Origin: The English word phone is actually short for telephone, which comes from the Greek words for sound (phon) and far away(tele). Related words: Homophones are words that sound (phon) the same(homo)but are spelled differently, like hear and here. If you like hearing nice things you might enjoy a symphony, which is when many instruments play together(sym) to make a...
2. Hyper
Meaning: Someone who is hyperis very energetic and lively. Origin: Hyper is actually a shortening of the word hyperactive, which combines the Greek word meaning “over, beyond” (hyper) and the Latin word for something that’s done (act). Related words: When someone tells you they’re so hungry they could eat a horse, you know they’re just exaggerating by using a hyperbole—stretching the truth, like throwing(bole) something too far(hyper). No matter how exciting someone’s hyperbole is, try not to...
3. Sync
Meaning: When a few things happen at the same time or in the same way, they’re in sync. This word is a shortening of the word synchronize, but it’s used alone nowadays as a verb (your phone apps might even syncto make sure your files are up to date). Origin: Sync comes from a Greek word that means to be together (sym or syn). Related words: A synopsis is a summary of something like a movie or a play. It’s a way for everyone to see(opsis) the meaning together(syn). Synopsis and summary are act...
5. Dense
Meaning: Something dense is packed tightly or very thick. For example, a fog can be so dense, or thick, that you can’t see much through it. Origin: Dense comes from the Latin densus, meaning “thick.” Related words: You can see condensation when evaporated water molecules join together(con) and become thick(dens)enough to form droplets. Density is the measure of how thickly packed(dens)something is, like people or things in one space.
6. Finish
Meaning: To finish something means to be done with it. In a few seconds you’ll be finishedreading this sentence. Origin: Finish comes from the Latin word finis which means “end.” In many words, this is shortened to fin. Related words: You’ve probably defined a lot of vocabulary words in your English learning, which means you’ve looked up what the words mean. You could say that you’ve brought an end (both de and fin) to your lack of understanding! Don’t worry, there’s a finite number of words...
7. Form
Meaning: The form of something is its shape. As a verb, to formmeans to create something in a specific shape. Origin: The word form comes from the Latin words for a mold (forma) and the Latin verbto form or to create(formare). Related words: Many jobs and schools require people to wear a uniform, which is clothing that all looks the same or has one(uni) style (form). When places don’t have strict rules about what clothes to wear, they’re informal, or without (in) a specific shape(form).
11. Loft
Meaning: A loft is a room right under the roof or very high up in a building. The loft in a house is usually used for storage, but building loftsare rented out as (usually smaller) living spaces. Origin: The Old Norse word for air or sky was lopt, which is written as loftin English. Related words: Something aloft is up in(a) the air(loft). If something is very tall, you would say it’s lofty, which is the adjective form of loft. In the same way, someone lofty has a very high (loft)opinion of t...
Additional posts to check out: 1. 11 Surprising English Words That Come from French 2. French Words in English: Over 100 Words You Thought Were English
15. Gusto
Meaning: Doing something with gustomeans really enjoying it and being enthusiastic about it. Origin: The Italian word gusto actually means taste, and comes from the Latin for taste, gustus. Related words: You won’t do something with gusto if you find it disgusting. That’s the negative feeling you get about something you think is unpleasant—literally, without (dis) taste(gust).
16. Check
Meaning: To checkmeans to take a close look at something, or to make sure of something (verify it). For example, before you leave for work in the morning you might check that you have everything you need. Checkcan also be used as a verb that means to stop or slow something down. Origin: The word checkhas an interesting history, moving from language to language and changing its meaning a little with each one. The word is originally from Persian and then Arabic, where it meant “king.” Over time...
Additional posts to check out: 1. 70 English Words of Spanish Origin: The Complete Guide 2. 35 Spanish Words Used in English You Have to Know!
English is a living language. That means it’s always growing and changing. Many things influence the English language and its growth, but no matter how new or old a word is, you can probably trace it back to an original word or the moment when it was accepted into the language. Whether the word is fleek (meaning “nice,” from 2003) or fleet(meaning ...
When you learn a new word, do you remember to learn its different forms and tensesas well? For instance, knowing the word “to see” isn’t enough when you want to talk about something from last week. You need to say “to see” in a different way, such as “I see,” “I saw,” “I’m going to see” or “I’ve seen.” You can apply the same idea to word origins. W...
English words are often made from root words, with prefixes and suffixes joined to them: 1. A prefix is added to the beginning of a word. The bi in bicycleis a prefix that means “two” (as in two wheels). 2. A suffix is added to the end of a word. The less in endless is a suffix that means “without” (which is why endless means “without an end”). Onc...
Oct 21, 2021 · cockroach. It’s hard to imagine a worse combination of letters in the English language, which makes it a fitting name for this creature. There are a few folk etymologies explaining why exactly “cock” and “roach” are paired together here, with one being that the first syllable is taken from caca, the word for excrement.
The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone.
Sep 20, 2019 · None of these stories, of course, is true. 11. Sirloin. Sirloin steak takes its name from sur, the French word for "above" (as in surname), and so literally refers to the fact that it is the cut ...
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Word stories. Explore our collection of word stories detailing the etymology and semantic development of a wide range of words, from taffety tarts, engine, and dungarees to digital, information, and witch. This section includes commentaries on the etymology and earliest recorded usage of words, such as OED Senior Editor, Matthew Bladen’s ...
