Here is a complete guide on how to use the site effectively.
When you click on a word, you are presented with an article. Here is how to decode the standard layout:
Created by Javier Julio Luis, this website is a massive database dedicated to the origin of Spanish words. Unlike a standard dictionary that defines what a word means, this site explains where it came from (Latin, Greek, Arabic, Indigenous languages, etc.) and how its form and meaning have changed over time. etimologias.dechile.net
En nuestro idioma, el vocablo derivó hacia el castellano antiguo como trabajo , manteniendo esa connotación de "sufrimiento, pena o dificultad". En la España medieval, "estar en trabajo" era sinónimo de padecer una calamidad. No es casualidad que el término "parto" (del latín partus ) haya sido reemplazado coloquialmente en muchos contextos por "trabajo de parto", pues el alumbramiento era considerado el esfuerzo físico máximo y doloroso.
The website's entries are organized alphabetically, making it easy for users to navigate and find specific words. Each entry typically includes a brief definition, followed by an in-depth analysis of the word's etymology, often accompanied by references to relevant literature and sources. The explanations are clear, concise, and engaging, making the site an excellent resource for both language enthusiasts and scholars. Here is a complete guide on how to use the site effectively
This is the best part of the site. The author goes beyond the dictionary definition to provide:
The author almost always starts with the "parent" language. Unlike a standard dictionary that defines what a
El cambio semántico se produjo lentamente: de "tortura" pasó a "esfuerzo físico penoso", luego a "actividad productiva" y finalmente a la acepción neutra de "empleo" u "ocupación remunerada". Sin embargo, en expresiones populares como "ponerse a trabajar" o "estar trabajado" (algo muy elaborado) aún pervive la sombra de aquel esfuerzo extremo.