Etymology Decoder

Akademeia (grove of Akademos) + Plato's school → The garden of Akademos / Plato's philosophical school

acquirere (to seek in addition) + ad (to) + quaerere (to seek/gain) → To seek to add to oneself / To gain possession

āmēn (Hebrew: firm, trustworthy, so be it) + from āman (to be firm/faithful) → Truly / So be it / It is firm

apokalypsis (uncovering) + apo (away) + kalyptein (to cover) → Revelation / Uncovering / Lifting the veil

asetz (enough) + ad satis (to sufficiency) → Enough to satisfy / Sufficient to pay debts

attornare (to turn over to) + attorn (to transfer) → One who turns over / Transfers allegiance

auctoritas (power of originator) + auctor (author/creator) → The power of the author / Creator's rights

banco (bench) + banque → Bench (money changers' bench) / Also: river bank

banca (bench) + rotta (broken) → Broken bench / Destroyed money-changer's table

barra (barrier) + British Accreditation Registry (claimed) → A barrier / That which separates

birth (from OE byrþ, from beran "to bear") + certus (certain/sure) → Document certifying a birth

bord (plank/table) + bord (ship's side) → A table / Ship's side / Plank for writing

bindan (to bind) + bondage → That which binds / Bondage

broad (wide) + cast (to scatter seeds) → To scatter seeds widely

bisignis (care/anxiety) + busy + ness (state of being busy) → State of being busy / State of anxiety and care

caput (head) + capitale (head of cattle) → The head / Head of cattle

celebritas (fame) + celebrare (to celebrate/honor) → One who is celebrated / Object of ceremony

chief (head/leader) + executive (one who executes) + officer (one who holds office) → Head executioner who holds official position

chair (seat of authority) + man (person) → One who occupies the chair of authority

canalis (water pipe/groove) + channeler (medium) → A conduit / That which directs flow

kyriakon (belonging to the Lord) + kyrios (lord/master) → The Lord's house

civis (city dweller) + cité (city) → One who belongs to the city/state

classis (division/fleet) + calare (to call/summon) → A calling together / A division of citizens for military/tax purposes

collegium (partnership/guild) + col (together) + legare (to choose/bind) → Chosen together / Bound together as colleagues

com (with/together) + panis (bread) → Those who break bread together

con (with/together) + sentire (to feel) → To feel together / To agree

con (together) + spirare (to breathe) → To breathe together / United in spirit

corpus (body) + -atio (action/process suffix) → Formation of a body / Embodiment

cohors/cortis (enclosed yard) + curtis (king's yard) → Enclosed yard / King's courtyard

credere (to believe/trust) + credo (I believe) → Belief / Faith / Trust

cultura (cultivation) + colere (to till/cultivate) → Cultivation / Tending of growth

currens (running) + current (flow) → Something that runs/flows

curriculum (a running/race course) + currere (to run) → A racing chariot / The course to be run

daimōn (divine power/spirit) + daiesthai (to divide/distribute) → Divine power, fate, guiding spirit, distributor of destiny

debitum (that which is owed) + debere (to owe) → That which is owed / Obligation

gradus (step/stage) + de (down) + gradus (step) → A step down / Stages of descent

dirigere (to set straight/guide) + di (apart) + regere (to rule) → One who guides/rules / One who sets the course

disciplina (instruction/knowledge) + discipulus (pupil/learner) → That which belongs to a disciple / Training of followers

dividendum (thing to be divided) + dividere (to divide) → That which is to be divided

docere (to teach) + doctrina → Teacher / One who indoctrinates

thaler/taler (valley) + Joachimsthaler (coin from Joachimsthal) → Valley coin / Coin from the valley of Joachim

dominium (property/ownership) + dominus (lord/master) + domus (house) → Absolute ownership / Lord's domain / House of the master

educare (to train) + educere (to lead out) → To lead out / To draw forth

eligere (to pick out) + ex (out) + legere (to choose/read) → To pick out from among / To read out

aequitas (evenness/fairness) + aequus (equal/level) → State of being equal / Fairness

aequitas (equality/fairness) + aequus (equal/level) → Evenness / Equality / The quality of being fair

status (state/condition) + stare (to stand) → State of standing / Condition / One's status in society

examen (weighing/testing) + exigere (to drive out/weigh) → The tongue of a balance / A weighing

exsequi (to follow out/execute) + ex (out) + sequi (to follow) → One who follows out / One who executes

foedus (covenant/treaty/league) + fides (faith/trust) → Of or pertaining to a treaty / Covenant-based

fiat (let it be done) + fieri (to become/be made) → Let it be done / Let it become / By decree

fiducia (trust/confidence) + fidere (to trust) → Pertaining to trust / Based on faith

fiducia (trust/confidence) + fidere (to trust) + fides (faith) → One who holds in trust / Based on faith

firmus (strong/steadfast) + firmare (to confirm/strengthen) → To make firm / To confirm by signature

franc (free) + franchir (to free) + francus (free man) → Freedom / To set free / Privilege of a free man

Frank (free man) + Stein (stone) → Stone of the free man / Free man's stone

freodom (power of self-determination) + freo (free/dear) → The state of being beloved / Not in bondage

gelem (raw material) + golmi (my unformed substance) → Shapeless mass / Embryo / Unformed matter

gubernare (to steer, pilot) + kybernan (Greek: to steer a ship) + gubernaculum (helm/rudder) → Steering / Piloting a vessel / Helm control

gubernare (to steer, to pilot a ship) + kybernan (Greek: to steer - the root of cybernetics) + -mentum (result/instrument suffix) → The act or result of steering/controlling

gradus (step/degree) + gradi (to walk/step) → A step / Stage of progression

graduari (to take a degree) + gradus (step) → To step / To take steps

grammatica + grimoire (book of magic) → The art of letters / Related to magic books

gild/geld (payment, tribute) + gildan (to pay) + gold → Payment / Tribute / That which is owed

hairesis (choice, choosing) + hairein (to take, to choose) → Choice / The act of choosing / Selection

halig (whole/healthy/sacred) + from PIE *kailo- (whole, uninjured) → Whole / Complete / Sacred

hospitale (guest house) + hospes (host/guest/stranger) → Place for guests/strangers

humanus (of man) + humus (earth/soil) + hue (color) + man → Of the earth / Earthling / Colored man

in (into) + corpus (body) + corporare (to form into a body) → To form into a body / To embody / To make into a corpse

in (not) + damnum (loss, damage, harm) + indemnis (unhurt, undamaged) → Without damage / Freedom from loss / Held harmless

indigens (in need) + indu/indi (within, in) + egere (to need, to lack) → Lacking within / In need from within / Internally deficient

in (into) + doctrina (teaching/learning) + docere (to teach) → To put into doctrine / To instill teachings

industria (diligence, activity) + indu (within) + struere (to build, pile up) → Building within / Internal construction / Inward structure

inflare (to blow into) + in (into) + flare (to blow) → Blowing into / Puffing up / Swelling with air

inquisitio (inquiry, examination) + inquirere (to seek into) + in (into) + quaerere (to seek) → A seeking into / Investigation / Formal inquiry

interesse (to be between/concern) + inter (between) + esse (to be) → To be in between / Compensation for difference

juris (of law/right) + dictio (speaking/declaration) → The speaking of law / Declaration of right

jurare (to swear) + jus/juris (law/right) + iurati (sworn ones) → Those who have sworn / Sworn men

kid (young goat) + kiðlingr (young goat) → Young goat / Baby goat

hladan (to load) + laden (to burden) → That which is loaded / The burden placed aboard

lagu (something laid down) + lex (law) + legere (to gather/read) → That which is laid down / Fixed or set

lectura (reading) + legere (to read/choose) → A reading / The act of reading aloud

legalis (of the law) + lex (law) + legare (to appoint/bequeath) → Pertaining to law / Appointed by law

levare (to raise) + levis (light/raised) → To raise / To lift up

ligare (to bind) + liable (bound by law) → State of being bound / Legal bondage

ligare (to bind) + liable (bound by law) → The state of being bound / Bound obligation

libertas (freedom) + liber (free man) → The state of being a free man

libertas (freedom) + liber (free man) + Liber (Roman god) → The state of a free man / Not a slave

licentia (freedom/permission) + licere (to be allowed) → Permission to do what is otherwise forbidden

licentia (permission) + licere (to be permitted) → One who has been permitted / One given leave

ligamen (bond/bandage) + ligare (to bind) → A bond / A binding / A tie

leitourgia (public service) + leitos (public) + ergon (work) → Public work / Service to the state

lux/lucis (light) + ferre (to carry/bring) → Light-bearer / Light-bringer / Morning star

magistratus (office of a magistrate) + magister (master, chief) + magis (more/greater) → One who is greater / A master over others

manifestus (caught in the act) + manus (hand) + festus (struck) → Struck by hand / Palpable / Plain to see

maritimus (of the sea) + mare (sea) + mari (Mary/bitter water) → Of the sea / Pertaining to the waters

martialis (of Mars) + Mars (Roman god of war) + Marte (the planet/deity) → Belonging to Mars / Of the war god

magister (chief/director) + magis (more/greater) → One who is greater / The director/teacher

matricula (register/list) + matrix (womb/source/list) → To enter on a register / To be inscribed in the mother-list

mergere (to dip/plunge/sink) + immerse → To plunge into / To sink / To be swallowed

minister (servant) + minus (less) → A lesser servant / Subordinate

moneta (mint/money) + Juno Moneta (Roman goddess) → From the temple of Juno Moneta where coins were minted

mort (death) + gage (pledge/grip) → Death pledge / Death grip

municipalis (of a free town) + municeps (citizen of a free town) + munus (duty/service) + capere (to take) → One who takes on public duties / Relating to those bound by duties

navigare (to sail) + navis (ship) + agere (to drive) → To drive a ship / To sail

newes (plural of new) + from Latin nova (new things) → New things / New information

oth (oath, solemn promise) + eid (Old High German: oath) + possibly from *(o)itos (a going, way) → A binding declaration / A path one commits to walk

obligatio (a binding) + obligare (to bind up) + ob (to/toward) + ligare (to bind) → A binding toward something / To be bound up

occultus (hidden) + occulere (to cover) → Hidden / Covered / Concealed

officium (service/duty) + opus (work) + facere (to do) → One who performs a duty / Service performer

ordo (row, rank, arrangement) + ordiri (to begin weaving) + possibly from Proto-Indo-European *h2r-dh1- (to arrange) → An arrangement / A row / A rank in hierarchy

orthodoxos (having the right opinion) + orthos (right, straight, correct) + doxa (opinion, belief, glory) → Right belief / Correct opinion / Straight glory

own (to possess) + agan (Old English: to possess, have) + -ship (state/condition) + possibly from Proto-Germanic *aiganan (to possess) → The state of possessing / The condition of having

parochia (diocese) + para (beside) + oikos (dwelling) → A dwelling beside / Administrative district

parler (to speak) + parlamentum (discussion/conference) → A speaking place / Place of discussion

passager (traveler) + passer (to pass) + -ager (one who) → One who passes through / Temporary traveler

patens (lying open) + patere (to lie open/be exposed) → Open / Exposed / Lying open to all

patiens (suffering) + pati (to suffer) → One who suffers / Endures suffering

paidagōgia (education) + pais (child) + agōgos (leader) → The leading of children / Child-leader

paenitentia (repentance) + poena (penalty/punishment) + poenitere (to regret) → Punishment / Penalty / Pain

persona (mask) + per sonare (to sound through) → A mask / To sound through a mask

pharmakeia (sorcery/drugs) + pharmakon (poison/drug) → Sorcery / Witchcraft / Drug use

politia (civil administration) + polis (city) → City administration / Policy enforcers

polis (city) + poly (many) + ticks (blood-suckers) → Affairs of the city / Many blood-suckers

pontifex (bridge-maker) + pons (bridge) + facere (to make) → Bridge-maker / One who makes bridges

portus (harbor) + porta (gate) + portare (to carry) → A gate/entrance / Place of carrying in

praesidens (sitting before) + prae (before) + sedere (to sit) → One who sits before / Presides

principalis (first in importance) + princeps (first/chief) + primus (first) + capere (to take) → The first to take / The one who takes first

privus (private/individual) + lex/legis (law) + privilegium (law for/against an individual) → Private law / A law applying to one person

probatum (thing proved) + probare (to test/prove/approve) → To prove / To test / To approve

profiteri (to declare publicly) + pro (forth) + fateri (to acknowledge) → One who declares publicly / One who professes

profectus (progress/advance) + proficere (to advance/be useful) → Advancement / Progress made

pro (before) + metheus/manthano (to learn/think) → Forethought / One who thinks ahead

propagare (to propagate/spread) + propago (to extend) → Things to be propagated / Spreading of ideas

protokollon (first sheet glued to manuscript) + protos (first) + kolla (glue) → First glue / First sheet glued on

realis (relating to things) + res (thing) + royal → Of or relating to things / Royal

rex/regis (king) + registrum (royal record) → To record with the king / Royal list

religare (to bind back) + re-ligare → To bind back / Re-tie

res (thing/matter/affair) → A thing / Object / Matter

revenu (returned) + revenire (to return/come back) → That which returns / Income that comes back

revenir (to return) + re (back) + venire (to come) → That which returns / Income that comes back

sacramentum (oath/pledge) + sacer (sacred/holy) + sacrare (to consecrate) → A military oath of allegiance / A sacred pledge

Saturnus (Roman god of sowing/agriculture) + possibly from satus (sowing) → God of sowing, agriculture, time

scholaris (of a school) + skholē (leisure) → One who belongs to the school / One with leisure for learning

skholē (leisure) + scola (discussion place) → Leisure / Free time for discussion

scientia (knowledge) + scire (to know) → Knowledge / The state of knowing

sigillum (small image) + signum (sign/mark) → A small image / An identifying mark of authority

saecularis (of an age/generation) + saeculum (age/generation/world) → Of the age / Of this generation / Worldly

securitas (freedom from care) + se- (without) + cura (care/anxiety) → Without care / Freedom from worry

seminarium (seed plot/nursery) + semen (seed) → A seed-bed / A place where seeds are planted and grown

senatus (council of elders) + senex (old man) → Council of old men

servus (slave) + servire (to serve) → A slave / One who serves

share (portion/division) + holder (one who grasps) → One who holds a divided portion

scip (ship) + skip (vessel) → A vessel for water travel

hamartia (missing the mark) + sin (moon deity) → Missing the mark / Moon god

societas (alliance) + socius (companion/ally) → Alliance / Fellowship of associates

superanus (chief/supreme) + super (above) → One who is above / Supreme authority

spellian (to tell/speak) + gospel → A story/talk / To speak

statutum (decree) + statuere (to set up) → That which is set up / A decree

stocc (trunk/stake) + livestock → Tree trunk / The main stem / Livestock

straw (worthless material) + man (person) → A man made of straw / A dummy figure

studens (eager/zealous) + studere (to be eager/apply oneself) → One who is eager / One who applies effort

subjectus (thrown under) + sub (under) + jacere (to throw) → Thrown under / Made subordinate

submittere (to lower) + sub (under) + mittere (to send) → To send under / To put oneself below

securitas (freedom from care) + securus (free from care) → One who makes secure / A guarantee

taxare (to appraise/assess) + tangere (to touch) → To assess / To touch/handle

tele (far) + vision (to see) → Far-seeing / To see at a distance

testamentum (will) + testis (witness) → A will / The last wishes of the dead

titulus (inscription/label) + titulare (to name/label) → An inscription / Label of identification or claim

titulus (inscription/label) → An inscription / Label of ownership

thesaurus (storehouse/treasure) + theke (repository) → A storehouse / Place where treasure is kept

tuitio (protection/guarding) + tueri (to watch/guard/protect) → A watching over / Protection / Guardianship

under (beneath) + stand (to stand) → To stand under / To stand beneath

universitas (the whole) + unus (one) + vertere (to turn) → Turned into one / The whole community

usura (use, interest) + usus (use) + uti (to use) → The use of something / Payment for use

vaccinus (of cows) + vacca (cow) → Of or from cows

vassallus (servant) + vassus (servant, young man) + gwas (Celtic: servant boy) → Servant / One who serves / Young servant

vindicta (revenge, vengeance) + vindicare (to lay claim, avenge) + vim dicere (to show force/speak with force) → Vengeance / The act of claiming what is rightfully yours

venue (a coming) + venire (to come) + venus (arrival) → A coming / The place to which one comes

vere (truly) + dictum (spoken/said) + verum dictum (true saying) → Truly spoken / A true statement

vicarius (substitute, deputy) + vicis (change, alternation, stead) → One who acts in place of another / A substitute

virus (poison/slime) + venom → Poison / Venom / Slimy liquid

warant (protector, defender) + guarant (guarantee) + werento (to authorize) → A guarantee / That which protects/authorizes

witnes (testimony, knowledge) + wit (knowledge, understanding) + witan (to know) → Knowledge / One who knows

word (speech) + verbum (word) + logos (word/reason) → An expression / Logos / Divine reason

weorthscipe (worthiness) + worth + ship (state of) → The state of being worthy / Giving worth

writ (something written) + writan (to write, scratch, draw) → That which is written / A writing

zelotes (emulator, zealous admirer) + zelos (zeal, ardor, jealousy) + zein (to boil, ferment) → One who is zealous / An ardent follower