alabaster - 1375, from O.Fr. alabastre, from L. alabaster "colored rock used to make boxes and vessels for unguents," from Gk. alabast(r)os "vase for perfumes," probably from Egypt. 'a-labaste "vessel of the goddess Bast." à la carte - 1826, from Fr., lit. "by the card," in other words "ordered by separate items." alack - 1480, from ah, lack. alacrity - mid-15c., from L. alacritatem (nom. alacritas) "liveliness," from alacer (gen. alacris) "lively." à la mode - 1649, from Fr. "in the fashion." Alan/Allen - proper name, 1066, from O.Bret. Alan, name of a popular Welsh and Breton saint, brought to England by the large contingent of Bretons who fought alongside William the Conqueror. alarm - c.1380, from O.Fr. alarme, from It. all'arme "to arms!" Extended 16c. to "any sound to warn of danger or to arouse." The verb is 1590, from the noun. alas - O.Fr. ah, las, from L. lassus "weary," originally an expression of weariness rather than woe. alb - O.E. albe, from M.L. alba "white vestment," fem. of albus "white." albacore - 1579, from Ar. al bakara pl. of buko "young camel," from the size of the fish. albatross - 1672, probably from Sp. alcatraz "pelican," evidently derived from Ar. al-ghattas "sea eagle;" spelling influenced by L. albus "white." Figurative sense of "burden" is from Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798). albedo - 1859, from L., lit. "whiteness." albeit - 1460, al be it "al(though) it be." Albert - from Ger. (the Fr. form is Aubert), from O.H.G. Adalbert, cognate of O.E. Æþelbeorht "Noble-bright," sometimes metathesized as Æþelbriht (Albright). albino - 1777, from Sp. or Port. albino, from L. albus "white." Used by Portugese of white African negroes. album - 1651, from L. neut. of albus "white." In classical times "a blank tablet on which the praetor's edicts and other public matters were inscribed." Revived 16c. by custom of German scholars to keep an album amicorum of colleagues' signatures, meaning then expanded into "book to collect souvenirs." Meaning in record album is from 1957. albumen - 1599, from L. albumen "white of an egg," lit. "whiteness," from albus "white." alchemy - 14c., from O.Fr. alkemie, from M.L. alkimia, from Ar. al-kimiya, from Gk. khemeioa, all meaning "alchemy," perhaps from an old name for Egypt (Khemia, lit. "land of black earth," found in Plutarch), or from Gk. khumatos "that which is poured out," from khein "to pour." Possibly a confusion of the two. alcohol - 1543, from M.L. "powdered ore of antimony," from Ar. al-kuhul "kohl," the fine metallic powder used to darken the eyelids, and the word meant "powdered cosmetic" in Eng. until the definition broadened (1672) to "any subliminated substance," then narrowed (1753) to "intoxicating ingredient in strong liquor." Alcoholism "disease of alcohol addiction" is from 1852. alcove - 1676, from Fr. alcôve, from Sp. alcoba, from Ar. al-qobbah "the vaulted chamber." Aldebaran - bright star in Taurus, 16c., from Ar. Al Dabaran "the follower" (of the Pleiades, which rise shortly before it does). alder - O.E. alor, with -d- added 14c. An ancient I.E. tree name. alderman - O.E. aldormonn (Mercian), ealdormann (W.Saxon), from aldor, ealder "patriarch" (comparative of ald "old") + monn, mann "man." A relic of the days when the elders were automatically in charge. The word yielded in O.E. to eorl, and after the Norman Conquest to count (n.). aldine - 1802, from Aldus Manutius, 16c., Venetian printer. ale - O.E. ealu "ale, beer," from P.Gmc. *aluth-, perhaps from I.E. root meaning "bitter," or from I.E. *alu-t "ale," from base *alu-, a word with connotations of "sorcery, magic, possession, intoxication." Ale and beer were synonymous until growing of hops began in England early 15c. An alehouse "is distinguished from a tavern, where they sell wine" [Johnson]. alembic - M.E., from M.Fr., from Ar. al-anbiq "distilling flask," from Gk. ambix "cup." alert - 1618, from Fr. alerte "vigilant," from phrase à l'erte "on the watch," from It. all'erta "to the height," from erta "lookout, high tower," orig. fem. of erto, pp. of ergere "raise up," from L. erigere "raise." The adv. is the oldest form in Eng.; adj. is from 1712, noun from 1803. Alexandrine - 1589, said to be from poems on Alexander. A line of 6 feet (the Fr. heroic verse), it was used in Eng. to vary the heroic verse of 5 feet. Alexander is Gk. Alexandros "defender of men." alfalfa - 1845, from Sp. from Ar. al-fisfisa "fresh fodder." al fresco - 1753, from It., lit. "in the fresh (air)." algae - (plural), 1794, from alga (singular), from L. alga "seaweed," of uncertain origin. algebra - 1551, from M.L. from Ar. al jebr "reunion of broken parts" as in computation, used 9c. by Baghdad mathematician al-Khwarizmi as the title of his famous treatise on it ("Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" "Rules of Reintegration and Reduction"), which also introduced Arabic numerals to the West. The word was used in Eng. 1400 to mean "bone-setting." algorithm - 1699, from Fr. algorithme, from O.Fr. algorisme "the Arabic numeral system," from Ar. al-Khwarizmi, name of the mathematician whose works introduced sophisticated mathematics to the West. Form influenced by Gk. arithmos "number." alias - c.1432, from L. form of alius "at another time," from alius "(an)other," from I.E. *al- "beyond." alibi - 1743, from L. alibi "elsewhere," locative of alius "(an)other." Any proof of innocense that doesn't involve being "elsewhere" is an excuse. alien (adj.) - 13c., from L. alienus "of or belonging to another," adj. form of alius "(an)other," from I.E. *al- "beyond." The noun sense of "foreigner" is 14c. Meaning "a being from another planet" first recorded 1944. An alien priory is one owing obedience to a mother abbey in a foreign country. alienate - 1548, from L. alienatus, pp. of alienare "to make another's, estrange," from alienus "of or belonging to another person or place," from alius "(an)other." Alienation in the sense of "transfer of ownership" is from M.E.; also "loss or derangement of mental faculties, insanity" (1482), hence alienist (1864, from Fr. aliéniste) "one who treats mental diseases." alight (v.) - "dismount," O.E. alihtan, from lihtan "get off, make light," from a- "down, aside" + liht "light in weight." alight (adj.) - "on fire," apparently from pp. of O.E. on-lihtan "to light up." align - c.1410, from M.Fr. aligner, from O.Fr. alignier, from à "to" + lignier "to line." Alignment first attested 1790. alike - O.E. gelic and/or onlice "similar," from PGmc. *galikam "associated form" (see like). alimentary - 1615, from L. ailimentarius, from alimentum "nourishment," from alere "to nourish." alimony - 1655, from L. alimonia "food, support," from alere "to nourish" + -monia suffix signifying action, state, condition. Derived form palimony coined 1979. alive - O.E. on life "in living." alkali - 14c., from M.L. alkali, from Ar. al-qaliy "the ashes" (of saltwort, a plant growing in alkaline soils), from qalay "to roast in a pan." Alkaline is attested from 1677. all - O.E. eall "all, every, entire," from P.Gmc. *alnaz, from I.E. *al- "all." All-fired (1837) is U.S. slang euphemism for hell-fired. allay - O.E. alecgan, from a- "down, aside" + lecgan "to lay," influenced by O.Fr. alegier "lighten" (see alleviate). Double -l- is 17c., a mistaken Latinism. allege - c.1300, it has the form of one O.Fr. verb and the meaning of another. The form is Anglo-Fr. aleger, from O.Fr. eslegier "to clear at law," from L. ex- "out of" and litigare "bring suit" (see litigate), but this meant "acquit, clear of charges in a lawsuit." It somehow acquired the meaning of alleguer, from L. allegare "to bring forth, name." allegiance - c.1399, from Anglo-Fr. legaunce "loyalty of a liege-man to his lord," from O.Fr. legeance, from L. ligare "to bind," corrupted in spelling by confusion with the now-obsolete legal term allegeance "alleviation." allegory - c.1384, from Gr. allegoria "description of one thing under the image of another," from allos "another, different" (from I.E. *al- "beyond") + agoreuein "speak openly." alleluia - 12c., from L. alleluja, from Gk. allelouia, from Heb. hallelu-yah "praise Jehovah" (see hallelujah). allergy - 1911, from Ger. Allergie, coined 1906 by Clemens E. vonPirquet, (1874-1929), Austrian pediatrician, from Gk. allos "other, different, strange" (from I.E. *al- "beyond") + ergon "activity." alleviate - early 15c., from L.L. alleviatus, pp. of alleviare "to lighten," from L. ad- "to" + levis "light (in weight)." alley - 1360, from O.Fr. alée, from alé, fem. pp. of aler "to go," which ultimately may be a contraction of L. ambulare "to walk," or a back-formation from L. allatus "having been brought to." Applied in M.E. to "long narrow enclosure for playing at bowls, skittles, etc." alliance - see ally. allied - see ally. alligator - 1623, from Sp. el lagarto (de Indias) "the lizard (of the Indies)," from L. lacertus (see lizard). Alligarter was an early variant. alliteration - 1656, from Mod.L. alliterationem (nom. alliteratio) from L. ad- "to" + litera "letter." allocate (v.) - 1640, from adj. (1438), from M.L. allocate (the common first word of writs authorizing payment), imperative pl. of allocare "allocate," from L. ad- "to" + locare "to place." allopathy - 1842, from Ger. Allopathie (Hahnemann), from Gk. allos "other" + -patheia "effect," from pathos "suffering." Opposite of homeopathy. allot - 1474, from O.Fr. aloter, from à "to" + loter "lot," a word of Gmc. origin. allow - early 14c., from O.Fr. alouer "approve," from L. allaudare, compound of ad- "to" + laudare "to praise," confused and merged in O.Fr. with alouer "assign," from L. allocare (see allocate). From the first word came the sense "permission based on approval," from the second the meaning preserved in allowance "a limited portion or sum (usually of money or food)," first recorded 1440. alloy - early 14c., from Anglo-Fr. alai, from O.Fr. aleier "mix with a baser metal," from L. alligare, compound of ad- "to" + ligare "to bind," hence "bind one thing to another." allspice - 1621, from all + spice, "so called because supposed to combine the flavour of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves." [Weekley] allude - 1533, from M.Fr. alluder, from L. alludere "to joke, jest," from ad- "to" and ludere "to play." Originally "mock," later, "make a fanciful reference to." allure - 1402, from Anglo-Fr. alurer, from O.Fr. aleurer, from à "to" + loirre "falconer's lure," from a Frank. word, perhaps infl. by Fr. allure "gait, way of walking." allusion - 1548, from L. allusionem (nom. allusio), from allus-, stem of alludere (see allude). An allusion is never an outright or explicit mention of the person on thing the speaker seems to have in mind. alluvium - 1665, from M.L. alluvium, neut. of alluvius "washed against," from L. alluere "wash against," from ad- "to, against" + -luere, comb. form of lavere "to wash" (see lave). Alluvial first attested 1802. ally (v.) - c.1300, from O.Fr. alier "combine, unite," from a different stem of aleier (source of alloy), from L. alligare "bind to" (see alloy). The noun is 1598 in the sense of "united with another by treaty or league," from the verb. alma mater - L. "bountiful mother," title Romans gave to goddesses, especially Ceres and Cybele, from alma, almus "nourishing," from alere "nourish," + mater "mother." First transfered to British universities 1710. almanac - mid-14c., from Spanish-Arabic al-manakh "calendar, almanac," possibly ult. from Late Gk. almenichiakon "calendar," probably of Coptic origin. This word has been the subject of much speculation; its central syllable may be from or influenced by the I.E. root of Mod.E. moon and month. almighty - O.E. ælmihtig, compound of æl "all" + mihtig "mighty," perhaps from a P.Gmc. loan-translation of L. omnipotens (see omnipotent). almond - c.1300, from O.Fr. almande, from M.L. almandola, ult. from Gk. amygdale, altered in M.L. by infl. of amandus "loveable," and acquiring an ahistoric -l- perhaps from Sp. almendra "almond." almoner - 13c., from O.Fr. aumosnier, from V.L. *almosinarius, from L.L. elemosinarius, from eleemosyna "alms." almost - O.E. eallmæst, compound of eal, al "all" + mæst "most." alms - O.E. ælmesse, from a P.Gmc. borrowing of V.L. *alemosyna, ult. origin Gk. eleemosyne "pity, mercy." aloe - O.E. aluwan (pl.), from L. aloe, from Gk. aloe, from Heb. ahalim. In M.E., a genus of plants with bitter juice, but in Bible a fragrant resinous wood; applied to American agave in 1682. aloft - c.1200, from O.N. a lopti "up above," from a "in, on" + lopt "sky, loft." alone - O.E. all ana "all by oneself." along - O.E. andlang "alongside of," from and- "opposite, against" (from P.Gmc. *andi-, *anda- from I.E. *anti "against," locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead") + lang "long." aloof - 1532, from Fr., from Du. loef "the weather side of a ship." Nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart." alp - 1598, "any high, snow-capped mountain," from Alps, from Fr. Alpes, from L. Alpes, perhaps from altus "high," or albus "white" or a Celtic word. alpaca - 1792, from Sp., probably from Aymara allpaca, related to Quechua p'ake "alpaca." alphabet - early 15c., from L.L. alphabetum, from Gk. alphabetos, from alpha + beta, the first two letters of it. already - c.1300, compound of all + ready. alright - frequent spelling of all right, attested from 1893. Alsace - from O.H.G. *Ali-sazzo "inhabitant of the other (bank of the Rhine)," from P.Gmc. *alja "other" + O.H.G. -sazzo "inhabitant," lit. "one who sits." also - O.E. eallswa "exactly so," compound of "all" + "so." The demonstrative sense of "similarly" weakened to "in addition to" in 12c., replacing eke. Altair - bright star in the constellation Aquila, 16c., from Ar. Al Nasr al Tair "the Flying Eagle." altar - O.E., from L. altaria "burnt offerings," but infl. by L. altus "high." alter - c.1385, from O.Fr. altérer, from L.L. alterare, from L. alter "the other (of the two)," from I.E. *al- "beyond. altercation - c.1390, from L. altercationem (nom. altercatio), from altercari "to dispute." alternate (adj.) - 1513, from L. alternus "one after the other," pp. of alternare, from alternus "every other," from alter "the other." The verb is recorded from 1599. Alternate means "by turns;" alternative (1590) means "offering a choice." although - c.1325, althagh, compound of O.E. eall "all" + þeah "though," showing once-common emphatic use of all. altitude - c.1386, from L. altitudo (gen. altitudinis), from altus "high." alto - 1784, from It., from L. altus "high," originally "man with an alto voice," though it is now more commonly applied to the lower range of women's voices (which is more strictly the contralto). altogether - M.E., a strengthened form of all, used in the sense of "a whole" from 1667. altruism - 1853, from Fr. altruisme, coined or popularized 1830 by Augustus Comte, from autrui, from O.Fr. altrui "of or to others," from L. alteri, dat. of alter "other." aluminum - coined 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy, from L. alumen "alum." Aluminium, the prefered British form, first recorded 1812. alumnus - 1645, from L. "a pupil," lit. "foster son," vestigal present passive participle of alere "to nourish." Plural is alumni. Fem. is alumna (1882), fem. plural alumnae. always - c.1350, compound of O.E. phrase ealne weg "always, quite, perpetually," lit. "all the way." With adverbial genitive, though the variant alway survived into 1800s. Alzheimer's disease - (senium præcox), 1912, in article by S.C.Fuller published in "Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases," named for Ger. neurologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915). Not common before 1970s; shortened form Alzheimer's first recorded 1954. A.M. - L. ante meridiem "before noon." am - O.E. eom "to remain," (Mercian eam, Northumbrian am), in O.E. it existed only in present tense, all other forms being expressed in the W-BASE (see were, was). The cooperative verb is sometimes refered to by linguists as *es-*wes-. Until the distinction broke down 13c., *es-*wes- tended to express "existence," with beon meaning something closer to "come to be" (see be). O.E. am had two plural forms: sind/sindon, sie and earon/aron The s- form (also used in the subjunctive) fell from use in the early 13c. (though it continues in Ger. as the 3rd person plural of "to be") and was replaced by forms of be, but aron (aren, arn, are) continued and encroached on some uses that had previously belonged to be as the two verbs merged. By the early 1500s it had established its place in standard Eng. Art became archaic in the 1800s. From P.Gmc. *ar-, which is probably a variant of the I.E. base *es-, *s-, the S-ROOT, which also yielded Gk. esti-, L. est, Sansk. as-, and Ger. ist. amalgam - 1471, from M.L. amalgama, "alloy of mercury," perhaps alt. of L. malagma "poultice, plaster," from Gk. malagma "softening substance," from malassein "to soften." Amalgamation in the figurative sense of "combining into one uniform whole" is from 1775. amanuensis - 1619, from L. amanuensis, from servus a manu "secretary," lit. "servant from the hand," from a "from" + manu, ablative of manus "hand." amaranth - 1616, from Fr. amarante, from L. amarantus, from Gk. amarantos, lit. "everlasting," from a- "not" + marainein "die away." At first a poet's word for an imaginary flower that never fades. amaryllis - 1794, from L., from Gk. Amaryllis, typical name of a country girl (Theocritus, etc.). amass - 1481, from O.Fr. amasser, from à "to" + masser (see mass). amateur - 1784, from Fr. amateur "lover of," from O.Fr., from L. amatorem (nom. amator) "lover," from amare "to love." amaze - O.E. amasian "stupefy," related to maze. Amazing in the sense of "great beyond expectation" is first recorded 1704. Amazon - Gk. Amazon "race of female warriors in Scythia," in folk etymology long derived from a- "without" + mazos "breasts," hence the story that the Amazons cut or burned off one breast so they could draw bowstrings more efficiently. The river in South America (originally called by the Sp. Rio Santa Maria de la Mar Dulce) rechristened by Francisco de Orellana, 1541, after an encounter with female warriors of the Tapuyas. ambassador - c.1385, from M.Fr. ambassadeur, from O.Fr. embassator, from L. ambactus "vassal," from Celt. amb(i)actos "a messenger, servant," from I.E. *ambhi- "about" *ag- "drive, lead." amber - 1365, from O.Fr. ambre, from M.L. ambar, from Ar. 'anbar "amber," a word brought home by the Crusaders. ambergris - early 15c., from M.Fr. ambre gris "gray amber" (see amber), "a wax-like substance of ashy colour, found floating intropical seas, and as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm-whale. Used in perfumery, and formerly in cookery" (O.E.D.). Opposed to white amber "fossil resin." ambidextrous - 1646, from L. ambidexter, lit. "right-handed on both sides," from ambi- "both" + dexter "right-handed." Its opposite, ambilevous "left-handed on both sides, clumsy" (1646) is rare. ambient - 1596, from L. ambientem (nom. ambiens), prp. of ambire "to go around," from amb- "around" (from I.E. *ambhi- "around," probably ablative plural of *ant-bhi "from both sides," from *ant- "front, forehead") + ire "go." The ground sense of "revolving" led to "encircling, lying all around." Ambiance is a 1923 borrowing from Fr. ambiguous - 1528, from L. ambiguus, adj. derived from ambigere "to dispute about," also, "to wander," from ambi- "about" + agere "drive, lead, act." Sir Thomas More (1528) seems to have first used it in Eng. Ambiguity (from L. ambiguitatem) first recorded 1400. ambition - 1340, from L. ambitionem (nom. ambitio) "a going around (ambre)" to solicit votes. Rarely used in the literal sense in Eng.; the sense of "eager or inordinate desire of honor or preferment" goes back to the L. ambivalence - 1924, from Ger. Ambivalenz, coined 1910 by Ger. psychologist Eugen Bleuler from L. ambi- "both" + valentia "strength," from prp. of valere "be strong." Ambivalent first recorded 1916. amble - c.1300, from O.Fr. ambler "walk as a horse does," from L. ambulare "to walk," a compound of ambi- "around" and -ulare, from I.E. base *el- "to go." Until 1596 used only of horses. ambrosia - 1555, "favored food or drink of the gods," from L. ambrosia, from Gk. ambrosios "of the immortals," from a- "not" + brotos "mortal." Used of various foods for mortals since 1685. ambrotype - 1855, Amer.Eng., perhaps from amber. A type of photograph on glass with lights given by silver and shades by a dark background showing through. ambulance - 1809, from Fr. (hôpital) ambulant, lit. "walking (hospital)," for a mobile or field hospital. Not common until meaning transfered from "hospital" to "vehicle for conveying wounded from field" during Crimean War. ambush (v.) - c.1300, from O.Fr. embuscher "to lay an ambush," from en- "in" + busch "wood," apparently from Frank. *busk "bush, woods." Variant form ambuscade (1582) was reborrowed from Fr., sometimes ambuscado, with faux Sp. ending popular in Eng. 17c. amelioration - 1659, from Fr. amélioration, from O.Fr. ameillorer, from à "to" + mellior "to better," from L.L. meliorare "improve." amen - O.E., from L.L. amen, from Gk. amen, from Heb., "truth," used adverbially as an expression of agreement ("verily, surely"). amenable - 1596, "liable," from M.Fr. amener "answerable" (to the law), from à "to" + mener "to lead," from L. minare "to drive (cattle) with shouts," var. of minari "threaten." Sense of "tractable" is from 1803. amend - 12c., "to free from faults, rectify," from O.Fr. amender, from L. emendare "to correct, free from fault," from ex- "out" + menda "fault, blemish." Supplanted in senses of "repair, cure" by its aphetic offspring mend. Amendment of a writ or bill (alteration to remove its faults) is 17c. Amends, collective singular, is in M.E. amenity - 14c., from O.Fr. amenité, from L. amoenitatem, from amoenus "pleasant," perhaps related to amare "to love." America - 1507, in Cartographer Martin Waldseemüller's treatise "Cosmographiae Introductio," from Mod.L. Americanus, after Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) who made two trips to the New World as a navigator and claimed to have discovered it. His published works put forward the idea that it was a new continent, and he was first to call it Novus Mundus "New World." Amerigo is more easily Latinized than Vespucci. American originally meant what are now called Native Americans; the sense of "resident of America of European descent" is first recorded 1765. American dream first recorded 1931. amethyst - 13c., from O.Fr. ametiste, from L. amethystus, from Gk. amethystos "amethyst," from a- "not" + methyskein "make drunk," from methys "wine," based on the stone's ancient reputation for preventing drunkenness. Spelling restored from M.E. ametist. amiable - 14c., from O.Fr. amiable, from L. amicabilis, from amicus "friend," confused with O.Fr. amable "lovable." amicable - early 15c., from L.L. amicabilis, from L. amicus "friend," related to amare "to love." amicus curiae - L. "friend of the courts;" pl. is amici curiae. amid/amidst - 1391, from amidde (12c.), from O.E. on middan "in the middle" (dative singular). M.E. amidde became amyddes with adverbial genitive and acquired a parasitic -t. Amidships is attested from 1692, though the adverbial genitive suggests a much earlier origin. amino - 1887, from amine (1863) "chemical compound formed from ammonia. Amish - 1844, Amer.Eng., from Jacob Amman, 17c. Swiss Mennonite preacher who founded the sect. amiss - c.1250, amis "off the mark," also "out of order," from a "in" + missen "fail to hit." amity - 1450, from M.Fr. amitié, from O.Fr. amistié, from V.L. *amicitatem, from L. amicus "friendly;" related to amare "to love." ammonia - 1799, coined 1728 by Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman from sal ammoniac, salt deposits containing ammonium chloride found near temple of Jupiter Ammon in Libya. Also known as Spirit of Hartshorn and Volatile or Animal Alkali. ammonite - 1706, from L. (cornu) Ammonis "horn of Ammon," the Egyptian god of life and reproduction, who was depicted with ram's horns, which the cephalopod fossils resemble. ammunition - early 17c., from Fr., from faulty separation of M.Fr. la munition, from L. munitio "a fortifying," and at first meaning all military supplies in general. amnesia - coined 1786 from Gk. amnesia "forgetfulness," from a- "not" + mimneskesthai "to recall." amnesty - 1580, from Fr. amnestie "intentional overlooking," from L. amnestia, from Gk. amnestia "oblivion" (see amnesia). amniotic - 1822, from Mod.L. amnion, from Gk., "menbrane around a fetus," originally "bowl in which the blood of victims was caught." Amniocentesis is 1970, Mod.L., from amnion + centesis "surgical puncture," from Gk. kentesis "a pricking," from kentein "to prick," related to kontos "pole." amoeba - 1855, from Mod.L. genus name (1841), from Gk. amoibe "change," so called for its constantly changing shape. amok - Malay amuk "attacking furiously." among - O.E. on gemang "in a crowd." Collective prefix ge- dropped 12c. leaving onmong. amongst (early 13c.) is same word + adverbial genitive and parasitic -t. By similar evolutions, alongst also existed in M.E. amorous - c.1303, from O.Fr. amorous, from L. amorosum, from amor "love." amorphous - 1731, from Gk. amorphos, from a- "without" + morphe "form." amortize - 14c., from O.Fr. amortiss-, stem of amortir "deaden," from V.L. *admortire, from L. ad- "to" + mors "death." Originally a legal term for an act of alienating lands. Meaning "extinguish a debt" (in form amortization) is attested from 1864.

amount (v.) - c.1275, from O.Fr. amonter, from à mont "upward," lit. "to the mountain," from L. ad- "to" + montem acc. sing. of "mountain." The noun is 1710, from the verb. amour-propre - 1818, from Fr., "sensitive self-love, self-esteem." ampere - 1881, "the current that one volt can send through one ohm," from Fr. ampère, from André M. Ampère (1775-1836), Fr. physicist. ampersand - 1837, contraction of and per se and, meaning "(the character) '&' by itself is 'and.' " The symbol is based on the L. word et "and," and comes from an old Roman system of shorthand signs (ligatures), attested in Pompeiian graffiti, but not (as sometimes stated) from the Tironian Notes, which was a different form of shorthand, probably invented by Cicero's companion Marcus, which used a different symbol, something like a reversed gamma, to indicate et. This Tironian symbol was maintained by some medieval scribes, including Anglo-Saxon chroniclers, who sprinkled their works with a symbol like a numeral "7" to indicate the word and. amphibian - 1637, "having two modes of existence, of doubtful nature," from Gk. amphibia, neut. pl. of amphibios, from amphi- "of both kinds" + bios "life." Formerly used to describe all sorts of combined natures (including otters and seals), the biological sense "class of animals between fishes and reptiles that live both on land and in water," and the noun derivative, first recorded c.1840. amphibrach - 1589, from L. amphibrachus, from Gk. amphibrachys "short at both ends." A foot consisting of a long between two short syllables. amphigory - 1809, "burlesque nonsense writing or verse," from Fr. amphigouri, from Gk. "circle on both sides." amphitheater - 1546, from L. amphitheatrum, from Gk. amphitheatron, neut. of amphitheatros "with spectators all around," from amphi- "on both sides" + theatron "theater," from theasthai "watch, look at." Classical theaters were semi-circles, thus two together made an amphitheater. amphora - 1323, "two-handled vessel for holding wine, oil, etc.," from L. amphora from Gk. amphoreus, contraction of amphiphoreus, from amphi- "on both sides" + phoreus "bearer." Also a liquid measure in the ancient world, in Gk. equal to 9 gallons, in Rome to 6 gallons, 7 pints. ample - 1437, from L. amplus "large, spacious." amplify - early 15c., "to enlarge or expand," from L. amplificare, from amplificus "splendid," from amplus "large" + the root of facere "make, do." Specific focus on sound seems to have emerged in the electronic age. amplitude - 1549, from L. amplitudo (gen. amplitudinis), from amplus (see ample). amputation - 1611, from L. amputationem, from amputare, from am(bi)- "about" + putare "to prune, trim." Derivative amputee first recorded 1910. amulet - 1601, from L. amuletum (Pliny) "thing worn as a charm against spells, disease, etc.," of uncertain origin, perhaps related to amoliri "to avert." amuse - 1480, from M.Fr. amuser "divert, cause to muse," from à "at" + muser "ponder, stare fixedly." Sense of "divert from serious business, tickle the fancy of" is recorded from 1631, but through 18c. the primary meaning was "deceive, cheat" by first occupying the attention. Bemuse retains more of the original meaning. Amusement "a pastime, play, game, etc." is first recorded 1673, originally depreciative. an - O.E., older and fuller form of a, to which it was reduced before most consonants by 1340, but lingered (especially in southern England dialect) before -w- and -y- through 15c. and before -h- through 17c. (see a). In Shakespeare, etc., sometimes a contraction of as if. anabaptist - 1532, "one who baptises over again," as if from Gk. ana- "up (in place or time), back again, anew" + baptismos "baptism." Sect that practiced adult baptism arose in Germany 1521. anabasis - 1706, from Gk. "military expedition," lit. "a going up," especially the story of the 10,000 narrated by Xenophon. anachronism - early 17c., "an error in computing time or finding dates," from L. anachronismus, from Gk. anachronismos, from anachronizein "refer to wrong time," from ana- "against" + chronizein "spend time," from chronos "time." Meaning "something out of harmony with the present" first recorded 1816. anacoluthon - 1706, "want of grammatical sequence, changing constructions in mid-clause," from L., from Gk. neut. of anakoluthos "inconsequent," from an- "not" + akolouthos "following." anaconda - 1768, Latinization of Sinhalese henacandaya "whip snake," lit. "lightning-stem." A Ceylonese python, the name was erroneously applied to a large S.American boa, called in Brazil sucuriuba. anacrusis - 1833, "a syllable at the beginning of a verse before the rhyme," from Gk. anakrousis, from ana- "back" + krouein "to strike." anagram - 1589, from Fr. anagramme, from Gk. anagrammatizein "transpose letters," from ana- "up, back" + gramma "letter." anaerobic - 1884, from Fr. anaérobie, coined 1863 by Louis Pasteur, from Gk. an- "without" + aer "air" + bios "life." anal - 1769, from Mod.L. analis "of the anus." Anal retentive first attested 1958, in psychological jargon. analect - Gk. analekta "literary gleanings," neut. pl., from ana- "up" + legein "to gather." analemma - 1652, from L., from Gk. analemma, from analambanein, from ana- "up" + lambanein "to take." analeptic - 1661, "restorative, strengthening" (in medicine), from Gk. analambanein (see analemma). analgesic - 1875, "tending to remove pain," from analgesia (1706), from Gk. an- "without" + algesis "sense of pain," from algos "pain," related to alegein "to care about," originally "to feel pain." analogy - early 15c., from O.Fr. analogie, from L. analogia, from Gk. analogia "proportion," from ana- "upon, according to" + logos "ratio." Mathematical term used in a wider sense by Plato. analysis - 1581, "resolution of anything complex into simple elements" (opposite of synthesis), from M.L. analysis, from Gk. analysis "a breaking up," from analyein "unloose," from ana- "up, throughout" + lysis "a loosening." Psychological sense is from 1906. anapest - 1678, "two short syllables followed by a long one," from Gk. ana- "back" + paiein "to strike," so called because it reverses the dactyl. anarchy - 1539, from M.L. anarchia, from Gk. anarchos "rulerless," from an- "without" + archos "leader." Anarchist (1678) got a boost into modernity from the French Revolution. anathema - 1526, from L. anathema, from Gk. anathema "a thing accursed," originally "a thing devoted," from ana- "up" + tithenai "to place." Originally simply a votive offering, by the time it reached L. the meaning had progressed through "thing devoted to evil," to "thing accursed or damned." Later applied to persons and the Divine Curse. anatomy - 14c., "dissection," from O.Fr. anatomie, from Gk. anatome "dissection," from ana- "up" + temnein "to cut." "Dissection," "mummy," and even "skeleton" were primary senses in M.E.; meaning "the science of the structure of organized bodies" first recorded 1528. ancestor - c.1300, from O.Fr. ancestre, from L.L. antecessor, from L. antecess-, stem of antecedere "precede," agent noun from ante- "before" + cedere "to go." anchor - O.E. ancor, borrowed 9c. from L. ancora, from Gk. agkyra "anchor, hook" (see ankle). A very early borrowing and said to be the only L. nautical term used in the Gmc. languages. The -ch- spelling emerged late 16c. anchorite - c.1433, "hermit, recluse, one who withdraws from the world for religious reasons" (especially those of the Eastern deserts), from M.L. anchorita, from Gk. anachorein "to retreat," from ana- "back" + chorein "withdraw, give place," from choros "place, space." anchovy - 1596, from Port. anchova, from Genoese or Corsican dialect, ultimately from either L. apua "small fish" (from Gk. aphye "small fry") or from Basque anchu "dried fish." ancient - c.1390, from O.Fr. ancien, from V.L. *anteanus, adjectivization of L. ante "before, in front of, against," from I.E. *anti "against," locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead." With parasitic -t- 15c. by influence of words in -ent. Specifically, "belonging to the period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire." In Eng. law, "from before the Norman Conquest." Ancient of Days is from Dan. vii.9. Meaning "standard-bearer" (1554, archaic, but preserved in Shakespeare's Aunchient Pistoll in "Henry V") is a corruption of ensign. ancillary - 1667, from L. ancillaris "maidservant," dim. of ancilla "handmaid," fem. dim. of anculus "servant." and - O.E. and, ond, orig. meaning "thereupon, next," from P.Gmc. *unda. Related to L. ante, Gk. anti. Phrase and how as an exclamation of emphatic agreement dates from early 1900s. Andes - from Quechua andi "high crest." andiron - 1309, from O.Fr. andier, altered by influence of M.E. iren (see iron). Andrew - from Gk. Andreas, from andreios "manly." android - "automaton resembling a human being," 1727, from Mod.L. androides, from Gk. andro- "human" + eides "form, shape." Listed as "rare" in O.E.D. (1879). androgynous - 1628, from L. androgynus, from Gk. androgynos, "male and female in one," from andros gen. of aner "male" + gyne "woman." Androgyne is attested from 1552. anecdote - 1676, from Gk. anekdota "things unpublished," from an- "not" + ekdotos "published," from ek- "out" + didonai "to give." Procopius' 6c. Anecdota, unpublished memoirs of Emperor Justinia full of court gossip, gave it a sense of "revelation of secrets," which decayed in Eng. to 18c. "brief, amusing stories." Anecdotage "garrulous old age" is a jocular formation from 1823. anemia - 18c. medical term, from Gk. anaimia "lack of blood," from anaimos "bloodless," from an- "without" + haima "blood." anemone - 1548, from L. anemone, from Gk. anemone "wind flower," lit. "daughter of the wind," from anemos "wind" + -one feminine patronymic suffix, the flower name perhaps orig. from Hebrew. Sea anemone is from 1773. anent - M.E., "in the company of," also "fronting against," from O.E. on efn "on even (ground) with;" the parasitic -t added 12c. A northern form (in Midlands, anenst, with adverbial genitive), affected by English writers in Scottish sense of "in respect or reference to." anesthesia - 1721, "loss of feeling," from Gk. an- "without" + aisthesis "feeling." Anaesthetic first used in modern sense 1848 by Sir J.Y. Simpson, discoverer of chloroform. aneurysm - early 15c., from Gk. aneurysma, from aneurynein "dilate," from ana- "up" + eurynein "widen," from eurys "broad." anfractuous - 1621, from L. anfractuous, from anfractus "a winding," from am(bi)- "around" + frangere "break." angel - fusion of O.E. engel and O.Fr. angele, both from L. angelus, from Gk. angelos "messenger," possibly related to angaros "mounted courier," both from an unknown Oriental source, perhaps related to Sansk. ajira- "swift." Used in Scriptural translations for Heb. mal'akh "messenger (of Jehovah)." anger - c.1250, from O.N. angr "distress, grief," from P.Gmc. *angus, from I.E. base *angh- "tight, painfully constricted, painful." In M.E., also of physical pain. angina - 1578, from L. angina "infection of the throat," from Gk. anchone "a strangling" (see anger). Angina pectoris is from 1744, from L. pectoris, gen. of pectus "chest." angio- - from Gk. angeion "a vessel." angle (v.) - "to fish," 1496, from O.E. angel (n.), related to anga "hook," from I.E. *ank- "to bend." Figurative sense is recorded from 1589. angle (n.) - "intersecting lines," c.1380, from L. angulus "corner," cognate with from Gk. ankylos "bent, crooked" (see ankle). Anglican - 1635, from M.L. Anglicanus, from Anglicus "of the English people, of England" (see anglicize). Anglicize - 1748, from L. Anglicus "of the English," from L. Angli "the Angles," lit. "people of Angul," a region in what is now Holstein, said to be so-called for its hook-like shape. Anglomania (1787) is older than Anglophobia (1816). Anglo - "American, English-speaking white person," 1941, southwestern U.S., from Anglo-American. Used in Canada from 1959, Britain from 1964. Anglo-Saxon - from L. Anglo-Saxones, in which anglo- is an adverb, "English Saxons," as opposed to those of the Continent (now called "Old Saxons"). Used of the Old English language from 1610; used rhetorically for "English" in an ethnological sense from 1840, and revisioned as Angle + Saxon. angora - 1833, from Angora, city in central Turkey (ancient Ancyra, modern Ankyra), which gave its name to the goat, and to its silk-like wool, and to a cat whose fur resembles it. angry - 1375 (see anger). "There are three words in the English language that end in g-r-y. Two of them are angry and hungry. What is the third?" There is no third (except some extremely obscure ones). Richard Lederer calls this "one of the most outrageous and time-wasting linguistic hoaxes in our nation's history" and traces it to a New York TV quiz show from early 1975. angst - 1956, from Ger. Angst "fear," from O.H.G. angust. Recorded in George Eliot's letters, 1849, but popularized in Eng. by translation of Freud's work. O.E. had a cognate word, angsumnes "anxiety," but it died out. anguish - 12c., "acute bolidy or mental suffering," from O.Fr. anguisse, from L. angustia "tightness, distress," from root of anguere "tighten." aniline - 1850, ultimately from Port. anil "the indigo shrub," from Ar. an-nil "the indigo." animadversion - 1599, from L. animadverte "to take cognizance of," lit. "to turn the mind to," from animum acc. of animus "mind" + advertere "to turn to." animal - 1541 (but rare before end of 16c., and not in K.J.V.), L. animale, neut. of animalis "living being, being which breathes," from anima "breath, soul," from I.E. *ane- "to breathe." Drove out the older beast in common usage. animate - 14c., from L. animatus pp. of animare "give breath to," from anima "life, breath" (see animus). animism - 1866, from L. anima "life, breath, soul." Earlier sense was of "doctrine that animal life is produced by an immaterial soul" (1832), from Ger. Animismus (coined by G.E. Stahl, 1660-1734). animosity - early 15c., "vigor," from L. animositatem (nom. animositas), from animosus "bold, spirited." Sense of "hostile feeling" is first recorded 1605, from a secondary sense in L. (see animus). animus - 1831, from L. "living being, soul, mind, disposition, passion, courage, anger, spirit, feeling." It has no plural. anion - 1834, coined by Eng. physicist Michael Faraday from Gk. anion "(thing) going up," neut. pp. of anienai "go up," from ana "up" + ienai "go." anise - c.1300, from O.Fr. anis, from L. anisum, from Gk. anneson. anisette - "liqueur flavored with aniseed," 1837, from Fr. Anisette de Bordeaux. anker/anchor - 1673, "liquid measure," that of Rotterdam, once used in England, equalled 10 old wine or 8.5 imperial gallons. ankle - O.E. oncleow "ankle," from I.E. base *ank- "to bend." The second element may suggest claw. Apparently infl. by Scand. or Fris. words of the same meaning and root. Anklet is from 1832. annals - 1563, from L. annales libri "annual books." anneal - O.E. onælan "to set on fire, kindle," from on- "on" + ælan "to burn, bake," from P.Gmc. *ailan, related to O.E. æled "fire." annelid - 1834, from Fr. annélide, the phylum name, coined 1801 by Fr. naturalist Lamarck, from annelés "ringed ones." annex (v.) - c.1370, from O.Fr. annexer, from M.L. annexare, freq. of L. annecetere "to bind to," from ad- "to" + nectere "to tie, bind." The noun sense of "supplementary building" is attested from 1861. annihilate - 1525, from L.L. annihilatus, pp. of annihilare "to reduce to nothing," from L. ad- "to" + nihil "nothing." anniversary - 12c., from L. anniversarius "returning annually," from annus "year" + versus, pp. of vertere "to turn." annotation - 1460, from L. annotationem, from L. annotare, from ad- "to" + notare "to note, mark." announce - 1483, from O.Fr. annoncier, from L. annuntiare, from ad- "to" + nuntiare "relate, report," from nuntius "messenger." annoy - c.1275, from Anglo-Fr. anuier, from O.Fr. enuier "to weary, vex," from L.L. inodiare "make loathsome," from L. (esse) in odio "be hateful," abl. of odium "hatred." annual - 14c., from L.L. annualis, adjective form of L. annus "year," from I.E. *at-no-, from base *at- "to go," on notion of "period gone through." Used of plants since 1710. Annuit Coeptis - on the Great Seal of the United States of America, condensed by Charles Thompson, designer of the seal in its final form, from L. Juppiter omnipotes, audacibus annue coeptis "All-powerful Jupiter favor (my) daring undertakings," line 625 of book IX of Virgil's "Aeneid." The words also appear in Virgil's "Georgics," book I, line 40: Da facilem cursam, atque audacibus annue coeptis "Give (me) an easy course, and favor (my) daring undertakings." Thompson changed the imperative annue to annuit, the third person singular form of the same verb in either the present tense or the perfect tense. The motto also lacks a subject. The motto is often translated as "He (God) is favorable to our undertakings," but this is not the only possible translation. Thomson wrote: "The pyramid signifies Strength and Duration: The Eye over it & Motto allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favour of the American cause." The original design (by William Barton) showed the pyramid and the motto Deo Favente Perennis "God favoring through the years." annuity - c.1412, from M.L. annuitatem, from annuitas, from L. annus "year." annul - 1395, from L.L. annullare "to make to nothing," from L. ad- "to" + nullum, neut. of nullus "nothing." anode - 1834, coined from Gk. anodos "way up," from ana "up" + hodos "way." So called from the path the electrical current was thought to take. anodyne - 1543, from M.L. anodynus "pain-removing," from L. anodynus "painless," from Gk. anodynos, from an- "without" + odyne "pain." anoint - c.1303, from O.Fr. enoint "smeared on," pp. of enoindre "smear on," from L. inunguere, from in- "on" + unguere "to smear." Use in the Coverdale Bible for "Christ" (see chrism) has spiritualized the sense of it. anomaly - 1571, from L. anomalia, from Gk. anomalia, from anomalos, from an- "not" + homalos "even," from homos "same." anomie - Gk. a- "without" + nomos "law." anon - O.E., on an "into one, straightway, at once," by misuse, "soon, in a little while" (1526). anonymous - 1601, from Gk. anonymos, from an- "without" + onyma, dialectal form of onoma "name." anorexia - 1626, from Gk. anorexia, from an- "without" + orexis "appetite, desire," from oregein "to desire, stretch out." Anorexic is from 1907. another - "an other," O.E. simply had oþer. Originally "a second of two." anschluss - 1924, from Ger., lit. "joining, union," specifically the proposal to unite Germany and Austria, accomplished by force 1938. answer - O.E. andswaru, from and- "against" + -swaru "affirmation," from swerian "to swear," reflecting the original sense of "make a sworn statement rebutting a charge." ant - O.E. æmette, from Gmc. bases *ai- "off, away" + *mait- "cut," thus "the biter." Emmet survived into 20c. as alternate. White ant "termite" is from 1729. antacid - 1732, from anti- + acid. antagonist - 1599, from L. antagonista, from Gk. antagonistes, from antagonizesthai "to struggle against," from anti- "against" + agonizesthai "to contend for a prize" (see agony). Antarctic - c.1400, Antartik, from O.Fr. antartique, from M.L. antarcticus, from Gk. antarktikos "opposite the north," from anti- "opposite" + arktikos "arctic." The first -c- sound ceased to be pronounced in M.L. Modern spelling, which restores it, dates from 1601. Antares - bright star in Scorpio, from Gk. Antares, from anti Ares "rival of Mars," in reference to its red color. ante - 1838 (n.), 1846 (v.), Amer.Eng. poker slang, apparently from L. ante "before." anteater - 1764, of the S.American species; 1868 of the Australian echidna. antecedent - 14c., from L. antecedentem (nom. antecedens), prp. of antecedere "go before," from ante- "before" + cedere "to yield." antediluvian - 1646, "before Noah's flood," formed from L. ante- "before" + diluvium "a flood" (see deluge). antelope - 1417, from O.Fr. antelop, from Gk. antholops fabulous animal haunting the banks of the Euphrates, very savage, hard to catch and having long saw-like horns. Original sense and language unknown. A heraldic animal until it was applied to a living deer-like creature 1607. antenna - 1646, from L. antenna "sail yard," the long yard that sticks up on some sails, translation of Gk. keraiai "horns" (of insects). Modern use in radio, etc., is from 1902. anterior - 1611, from L. comp. of ante "before." anthem - O.E. ontemn, antefn, from L.L. antefana, from Gk. antiphona "verse response," from anti- "over against" + phone "voice." Originally "a composition (in prose or verse) sung antiphonally," later "a composition set to sacred music," then "song of praise or gladness." Used of the English national anthem (technically a hymn) since 1591. anthology - 1640, from L. anthologia, from Gk. anthologia "flower-gathering," from anthos "a flower" (from I.E. *andh- "bloom") + logia "collecting," from legein "gather." Modern sense is metaphoric, "flowers" of verse, small poems by various writers gathered together. Anthony - L. Antonius, name of a Roman gens (with unhistoric -h-); St. Anthony (4c.), Egyptian hermit, patron saint of swineherds, to whom one of each litter was usually vowed, hence Anthony for "smallest pig of the litter. St. Anthony's Fire, popular name for erysipelas, from the tradition that those who sought his intercession recovered from that distemper in 1089. anthracite - 1812, "non-bituminous coal," earlier a type of gem described by Pliny (1601), from L. anthracites "bloodstone, semi-precious gem," from Gk. anthrakites, from anthrax (gen. anthrakos) "live coal" (see anthrax). anthrax - 14c., from L., from Gk., lit. "live coal," originally "any severe boil or carbuncle," specific sense of the disease in sheep and cattle is from 1876. anthropology - 1593, coined from Gk. anthropo-, comb. form of anthropos "man, human being" + -logia "study of." anthropomorphic - 1827, from anthropomorphous (1753), anglicization of L.L. anthropomorphus "having human form," from Gk. anthropomorphos, from anthropos "human being" + morphe "form." anti- - L. anti- from Gk. anti "against," cognate with O.E. and-, from I.E. *anti "facing opposite, near" (cf. L. ante "opposite, before"). Antichrist is in M.E., from Gk. antikhristos (I John ii.18). Anticlimax is 1727, "the addition of a particular which suddenly lowers the effect." Antisocial is from 1797. Anti-aircraft (adj.) first attested 1914; antibiotic is from 1944, coined earlier in Fr. as antibiotique; first record of anti-freeze is 1913 (adj.), 1935 as a noun; anti-matter first attested 1953. antic - 1529, from It. antico "antique," from L. antiquus (see antique). Originally (like grotesque) refering to the strange and fantastic representations on ancient murals unearthed around Rome, later extended to anything bizarre. anticipation - 14c., from L. anticipationem, from L. anticipare "take (care of) ahead of time," from ante "before" + capere "to take." Used in the sense of "expectation" since 1809, but anticipate has an element of "prepare for, forestall" that should prevent its being used as a synonym for expect. antidisestablishmentarianism - 1838, said by Weekley to be first recorded in Gladstone's "Church and State," "in reference to a scheme directed against the Church of England," from establishment in the sense of "the ecclesiastical system established by law; the Church of England" (1731). Hence, establishmentarianism "the principle of a state church," and disestablish (1598) "to deprive (a church) of especial state patronage and support," first used specifically of Christianity in 1806. antidote - early 15c., from L. antidotum, from Gk. antidoton "given as a remedy," verbal adjective of antididonai "give in return," from anti- "against" + didonai "to give." antimacassar - coined 1852, from anti- + macassar oil, imported hair tonic from Sulawesi. Cloth to protect chair and sofa fabric from people leaning their oily heads back against it. antimony - c.1425, from M.L. antimonium an alchemist's term, origin obscure, probably a Latinization of Gk. stimmi, from some Ar. word (cf. 'othmud) or ult. from Egyptian stm "powdered antimony" (used to paint the eyelids). In folk etymology, anti-moine "monk's bane." Chemical symbol Sb is for Stibium. antinomian - 1645, from M.L. Antinomi, from Gk. anti- "opposite, against" + nomos "rule, law." One who maintains the moral law is not binding on Christians under the law of grace. A sect of this sort arose in Germany 1535. antipasto - It. anti- "before" + pasto "food." antipathy - 1601, from L. antipathia, from Gk. antipathes "opposed in feeling," from anti- "against" + pathos "feeling." antiphon - 1500, see anthem. antipodes - 14c., from L. antipodes "those who dwell on the opposite side of the earth," from Gk. antipodes, pl. of antious "with feet opposite ours," from anti- "opposite" + pous "foot," thus people who live on the opposite side of the world. Not to be confused with antiscii "those who live on the same meridian on opposite side of the equator," whose shadows fall at noon in the opposite direction, from Gk. anti- + skia "shadow." antique - 1536, from M.Fr. antique, from L. antiquus "former, ancient," from I.E. *anti in sense of "before" (locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead") + *okw- "appearance." Originally pronounced in Eng. like its parallel antic, but Fr. pronunciation was eventually adopted. Antiquity was in M.E.; antiquated in the sense of "obsolete" is from 1623. antiseptic - 1751, coined from Gk. anti- "against" + sepsis "putrefaction." antithesis - 1529, from L.L. antithesis, from Gk. antitithenai "to set against, oppose," a term in logic, from anti- "against" + tithenai "to place." antler - 14c., from Anglo-Fr. auntiler, from O.Fr. antoillier, perhaps from Gallo-Romance cornu *antoculare "horn in front of the eyes," from L. ante "before + ocularis "of the eyes." Doubted by some, because no similar word exists in any other Romance language. antonym - 1870, created to serve as opposite of synonym, from Gk. anti- "equal to" + -onym "name." anus - early 15c., from O.Fr. anus, from L. anus "ring, anus," from I.E. base *ano- "ring." anvil - O.E. anfilte, from W.Gmc. *ana- "on" + *filtan "hit." Anvil Chorus is based on the "Gypsy Song" that opens Act II of Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Il Trovatore," first performed in Teatro Apollo, Rome, Jan. 19, 1853. anxiety - c.1525, from L. anxietatem (nom. anxietas), from anxius (see anxious). anxious - 1623, from L. anxius, from angere "choke, cause distress" (see anger). any - O.E. ænig "any, anyone," lit. "one-y," from P.Gmc. *ainagas. Combinations anyone, anything date back to O.E.; anywhere is M.E.; anybody 1490; anyway 1570 (but anyways, with adverbial genitive, is from 1560); anyhow 1740.