The historical English dictionary
An unsurpassed guide for researchers in any discipline to the meaning, history, and usage of over 500,000 words and phrases across the English-speaking world.
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Glossaries, abbreviations, pronunciation guides, frequency, symbols, and more
Explore resourcesHistorical Thesaurus
Explore different words used for the same concept or meaning over time
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Word stories
Read our collection of word stories detailing the etymology and semantic development of a wide range of words, including ‘dungarees’, ‘codswallop’, and ‘witch’.
Word lists
Access our word lists and commentaries on an array of fascinating topics, from film-based coinages to Tex-Mex terms.
World Englishes
Explore our World Englishes hub and access our resources on the varieties of English spoken throughout the world by people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
History of English
Here you can find a series of commentaries on the History of English, charting the history of the English language from Old English to the present day.