 | |
Type of site | Etymological dictionary |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Harper Family LLC |
| Created by | Douglas R. Harper |
| URL | www |
| Registration | Optional |
| Current status | Active |
Content license | Proprietary |
| OCLC number | 51773921 |
TheOnline Etymology Dictionary, also known by its domain nameEtymonline, is an Americanonline dictionary of theorigins and historical development ofEnglish words, compiled and written primarily by Douglas R. Harper.[1][2]Harper founded the project in 2001.[2] Since 2021, Talia Felix has served as associate editor.[2]
Harper has described the project as an attempt to provide a comprehensive, freely available etymological reference online, characterizing his work primarily as compiling and evaluating earlier etymological scholarship.[3]The dictionary distinguishes etymology from definition and notes that the two should not be treated as interchangeable.[4]
Etymonline's etymologies are largely synthesized from established print dictionaries and related scholarship. Harper lists theOxford English Dictionary, theBarnhart Dictionary of Etymology, works by Ernest Klein and Ernest Weekley, and Proto–Indo-European references such as Calvert Watkins among the site's core sources.[4]
The site maintains a published bibliography of principal reference works consulted in its compilation.[5] Etymonline has also been characterized in computational linguistics literature as a compilation drawing on numerous published sources.[6]
In addition to the main dictionary, Etymonline publishes editorial columns and maintains an official discussion forum.[7]The website offers a paid subscription service,Etymonline Premium.[8] It also distributes official apps and browser tools, including iOS and Android apps and a Chrome extension.[9][10][11]
According to its terms of service, the site asserts proprietary rights in its content and restricts unauthorized reuse of its material.[12]
TheOnline Etymology Dictionary has been listed and described in library and reference catalogs, including the University of Pennsylvania Libraries' Online Books Page and McMaster University Libraries' database directory.[13][14] It has also been recommended as a public reference resource by libraries such as Forbes Library.[15]In a 2023 software review inTechnology in Language Teaching & Learning, Ibrahim Halil Topal evaluated the site as an online dictionary resource and discussed both potential advantages and limitations for learners and educators.[16]A 2017 master's thesis used Etymonline as a case study in proposing ways to reorganize an etymological database to support enhanced searching and browsing.[17]
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