How to Search for the Etymology or History of a Word

If you are interested in or study language and linguistics, then you may like to know the origins of words. To find this out you can use an etymology dictionary. Etymology dictionaries will display the history and source of words. While some full-length traditional dictionaries such as the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) contain a word's heritage, you can also find the information online for free.

• 1

  Navigate to the Online Etymology Dictionary (see Resources). The Online Etymology Dictionary is considered the best etymological source on the Internet. Ohio University verifies it as a valid scholarly source. Enter the word you wish to search for and click "OK."

• 2

  Navigate to MyEtymology (see Resources). MyEtymology brands itself as a "universal" dictionary offering many languages. Enter your search term and click "Search." The detail is rarely as expansive as the Online Etymology Dictionary.

• 3

  Navigate to Behind the Name (see Resources). Behind the Name is an etymology dictionary for first names. This is a specialist etymology dictionary and should be used, as expected, for researching first names. Enter your name and click "Search."