Online Etymology Dictionary

anathema (n.): 1520s, "an accursed thing," from Latin anathema "an excommunicated person; the curse of excommunication," from Greek anathema "a thing accursed," originally "a thing devoted," literally "a thing set up (to the gods)," from ana- "up" (see ana-) + tithenai "to place," from PIE root *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious).

Originally simply a votive offering, by the time it reached Latin the meaning had progressed through "thing devoted to evil," to "thing accursed or damned." Later applied to persons and the Divine Curse. Meaning "formal act or formula of consigning to damnation" is from 1610s.

Anathema maranatha, taken as an intensified form, is a misreading of the Syriac maran etha "the Lord hath come," which follows anathema in I Cor. xvi:22, but is not connected with it (see Maranatha).
anathematization (n.): 1590s, from Medieval Latin anathematizationem (nominative anathematizatio), noun of action from past participle stem of anathematizare (see anathematize). Earlier was anathemization (1540s).
anathematize (v.): "to pronounce an anathema against," 1560s, from French anathématiser (Old French anatemer), from Latin anathematizare, from Greek anathematizein "to devote (to evil)," from stem of anathema. Alternative anathemize (1670s) is less correct and more rare. Related: Anathematized; anathematizing.
Anatolia: ancient name of Asia Minor, from Medieval Latin Anatolia, from Greek anatole "the east," originally "sunrise" (which of course happens in the east), literally "a rising above (the horizon)," from anatellein "to rise," from ana "up" (see ana-) + tellein "to accomplish, perform."
anatomic (adj.): 1712, from Latin anatomicus, from Greek anatomikos "relating to anatomy," from anatomia (see anatomy). Anatomical is older.
anatomical (adj.): 1580s; see anatomy + -ical.
anatomically (adv.): 1640s, from anatomical + -ly (2). Anatomically correct, of dolls and meaning "with genitalia," is attested 1968, perhaps 1967, American English, in reference to Petit Frère, an imported French boy doll.
anatomize (v.): "to dissect, investigate by dissection," early 15c., from Medieval Latin anatomizare or French anatomiser (16c.), from Greek anatomia (see anatomy). Related: Anatomized; anatomizing.
anatomy (n.): late 14c., "study of the structure of living beings;" c.1400, "anatomical structures," from Old French anatomie, from Late Latin anatomia, from Greek anatomia, from anatome "dissection," from ana- "up" (see ana-) + temnein "to cut" (see tome). "Dissection" (1540s), "mummy" (1580s), and "skeleton" (1590s) were primary senses of this word in Shakespeare's day; meaning "the science of the structure of organized bodies" predominated from 17c. Often mistakenly divided as an atomy or a natomy.
The scyence of the Nathomy is nedefull and necessarye to the Cyrurgyen [1541]
ancestor (n.): c.1300, ancestre, antecessour, from Old French ancestre (12c., Modern French ancêtre), from Late Latin antecessor "predecessor," literally "foregoer," agent noun from past participle stem of Latin antecedere "to precede," from ante- "before" (see ante) + cedere "to go" (see cede). Current form from early 15c. Feminine form ancestress recorded from 1570s.
ancestral (adj.): 1520s, from Old French ancestrel (Anglo-French auncestrel), from ancestre (see ancestor). Related: Ancestrally.
ancestry (n.): early 14c., from Old French ancesserie "ancestry, ancestors, forefathers," from ancestre (see ancestor); spelling modified in English by influence of ancestor.
anchor (n.): Old English ancor, borrowed 9c. from Latin ancora "anchor," from or cognate with Greek ankyra "anchor, hook" (see ankle). A very early borrowing and said to be the only Latin nautical term used in the Germanic languages. The -ch- form emerged late 16c., a pedantic imitation of a corrupt spelling of the Latin word. The figurative sense of "that which gives stability or security" is from late 14c. Meaning "host or presenter of a TV or radio program" is from 1965, short for anchorman.
anchor (v.): c.1200, from anchor (n.). Related: Anchored; anchoring.
anchorage (n.): mid-14c., "toll or charge for anchoring" (see anchor (v.) + -age. Meaning "act of dropping anchor, being at anchor" is from 1610s; that of "place suitable for anchoring" is from 1706. The Alaska city of Anchorage was founded 1914.
anchoress (n.): "female recluse, nun," late 14c.; see anchorite + -ess.
anchorite (n.): mid-15c., "hermit (especially those of the Eastern deserts), recluse, one who withdraws from the world for religious reasons," from Medieval Latin anchorita, from Greek anakhoretes, literally "one who has retired," agent noun from anakhorein "to retreat, go back, retire," from ana- "back" (see ana-) + khorein "withdraw, give place," from khoros "place, space, free space, room." Replaced Old English ancer, from Late Latin anchoreta.
anchorman (n.): "last man of a tug-of-war team," 1909, from anchor + man (n.). Later, "one who runs last in a relay race" (1934). Transferred sense "host or presenter of a TV or radio program" is from 1958.
anchovy (n.): 1590s, from Portuguese anchova, from Genoese or Corsican dialect, perhaps ultimately from either Latin apua "small fish" (from Greek aphye "small fry") [Gamillscheg, Diez], or from Basque anchu "dried fish," from anchuva "dry" [Klein, citing Mahn].
anchylosis (n.): "stiffness of joints," 1713, from Greek ankylos "crooked" (see angle (n.)) + -osis.
ancien regime (n.): 1794, from French ancien régime, literally "old rule," referring to the government and social order of France before the Revolution there. See ancient + regime.
ancient (adj.): mid-14c., auncyen, from Old French ancien "old, long-standing, ancient," from Vulgar Latin *anteanus, literally "from before," adjectivization of Latin ante "before, in front of, against" (from PIE *anti "against," locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead;" see ante). The parasitic -t dates from 15c. by influence of words in -ent.

Specifically, in history, "belonging to the period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire" (and contrasted with medieval and modern). In English law, "from before the Norman Conquest." Ancient of Days is from Dan. vii:9. Related: Anciently.
ancient (n.): "standard-bearer," 1550s, a corruption of ensign. Archaic, but preserved in Shakespeare's character Aunchient Pistoll in "Henry V."
ancillary (adj.): 1660s, "subservient, subordinate," from Latin ancillaris "relating to maidservants," diminutive of ancilla "handmaid," fem. diminutive of anculus "servant," literally "he who bustles about," from root of ambi- "about" (see ambi-) + PIE *kwol-o-, from root *kwel- "move round, turn about, be much about" (see cycle (n.)).
and (conj.): Old English and, ond, originally meaning "thereupon, next," from Proto-Germanic *unda (cf. Old Saxon endi, Old Frisian anda, Middle Dutch ende, Old High German enti, German und, Old Norse enn), from PIE *en; cognate with Latin ante, Greek anti (see ante). Phrase and how as an exclamation of emphatic agreement dates from early 1900s.
Andalusia: former name of southern Spain, from Spanish, from Arabic al Andalus, name for the entire peninsula, from Late Latin *Vandalicia "the country of the Vandals," in reference to one of the Germanic tribes that overran the Western Empire 3c.-4c. and for a time settled in southern Spain. See vandal.
andante: musical direction, "moderately slow," 1742, from Italian andante, present participle of andare "to go," from Vulgar Latin ambitare (source of Spanish andar "to go"), from Latin ambitus, past participle of ambire "to go round, go about" (see ambient).
Andes: from Quechua andi "high crest."
andiron (n.): c.1300, from Old French andier, of unknown origin, perhaps from Gaulish *andero- "a young bull" (cf. Welsh anner "heifer"), which would make sense if they once had bull's heads cast onto them. Altered by influence of Middle English iren (see iron (n.)).
Andorra: probably from indigenous (Navarrese) andurrial "shrub-covered land."
andouille (n.): type of sausage, c.1600, from French andouille (12c.), from Latin inductilia, neuter plural of inductilis, from inducere "to load or put in" (see induct). The original notion was perhaps of the filling "introduced" into the sausage.
Andrew: masc. proper name, from Old French Andreu (Modern French André), from Latin Andreas, from Greek Andreas, from andreios "manly," from aner (genitive andros) "man" (see anthropo-). Andrew Millar (1590s) for some forgotten reason became English naval slang for "government authority," and especially "the Royal Navy." St. Andrew (feast day Nov. 30) has long been regarded as patron saint of Scotland. The Andrew's cross (c.1400) supposedly resembles the one St. Andrew was crucified on.
andro-: word-forming element meaning "man, male," from Greek andro-, comb. form of aner (genitive andros) "man, male" (see anthropo-).
androcentric (adj.): 1887, from andro- + -centric.
androcentricity (n.): 1907; see androcentric + -ity.
androcentrism (n.): 1915; see androcentric + -ism.
androcracy (n.): "rule or supremacy of men," 1883; see andro- + -cracy. Related: Androcratic.
androgen (n.): male sex hormone, 1936, from andro- + -gen.
androgyne (n.): "hermaphrodite," mid-12c., from Medieval Latin androgyne, from Greek androgyne (see androgynous).
androgynous (adj.): 1620s, from Latin androgynus, from Greek androgynos "hermaphrodite, male and female in one; womanish man;" as an adjective (of baths) "common to men and women," from andros, genitive of aner "male" (see anthropo-) + gyne "woman" (see queen).
androgyny (n.): 1833; see androgynous.
android (n.): "automaton resembling a human being," 1842, from Modern Latin androides (itself attested as a Latin word in English from 1727), from Greek andro- "human" (see andro-) + eides "form, shape." Greek androdes meant "like a man, manly;" cf. also Greek andrias "image of a man, statue." Listed as "rare" in OED 1st edition (1879), popularized from c.1951 by science fiction writers.
Andromache: wife of Hector, Latin Andromache, from Greek Andromakhe, perhaps literally "whose husband excells in fighting," fem. of andromakhos "fighting with men;" see anthropo- + -machy.
Andromeda: constellation, 1667 (earlier Andromece, mid-15c.); in classical mythology the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, from Greek, literally "mindful of her husband," from andros, genitive of aner "man" (see anthropo-) + medesthai "to be mindful of, think on," related to medea (neuter plural) "counsels, plans, devices, cunning" (and source of the name Medea).
andron (n.): men's apartment in a house, from Greek andron, collateral form of andronitis "men's apartment," from aner (genitive andros) "man" (see anthropo-).
androphobia (n.): "morbid fear of the male sex" (sometimes, rather, "of the human race" or "of crowds), 1844, from andro- + -phobia. Related: Androphobic.
Andy: familiar shortening of masc. proper name Andrew (q.v.).
anear (adv.): "nearly," c.1600, from a- (1) + near.
anecdotage (n.): "anecdotes collectively," 1823, from anecdote + -age. As a jocular coinage meaning "garrulous old age" it is recorded from 1835, and led to anecdotard.
anecdotal (adj.): 1794, from anecdote + -al (1). Related: Anecdotally. Anecdotical is attested from 1744.