# Word Radicals: Etymology — Word origins & their journeys > Traces English word origins through historical languages and morpheme breakdowns. (iPhone/iPad app by john mckenna.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-radicals-etymology/id6761283161 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [john mckenna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1313137362) - Category: Education, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 79 MB - Released: 2026-04-09 - Data updated: 2026-09-01 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-radicals-etymology/id6761283161/reviews.md ## What is Word Radicals? Ever wonder where English words really come from? WordLookup traces any English word back through history to its Latin, Greek, Old English, French, Germanic, Sanskrit, and Arabic origins. See the full etymology chain — every language a word passed through on its way into modern English. Search for "compel" and watch it unfold: borrowed from Latin compellere, itself from com- ("together") + pellere ("to drive"). Search "philosophy" and trace it from Greek philosophia — philos ("loving") + sophia ("wisdom"). FEATURES - Etymology chains showing the complete journey of a word through languages - Morpheme breakdowns revealing how Latin and Greek words were built from smaller parts - Classical sources from Lewis & Short (Latin) and Liddell-Scott-Jones (Greek) lexicons, with original definitions and quotations - Semantic relationships including cognates, doublets, calques, and loan translations across languages - Word definitions with online dictionary fallback - Falling words — an ambient display of etymology-rich words you can tap to explore - Dark, minimal interface designed for reading - Entirely offline — no internet connection required after download ## Key features - Etymology chains showing word journeys - Morpheme breakdowns - Classical lexicon sources - Semantic relationship analysis - Offline functionality - Minimal dark interface ## Recent user reviews (3 of 3) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-radicals-etymology/id6761283161/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Very informative *2026-06-22* Great app I’ve enjoyed using it ! ### 5/5 — REALLY NICE FOR WORD LOVERS! Just one request… *2026-05-19* … Dev, can you please add a function to change FONT SIZE? The default size is a bit tiny for my decrepit eyes, sigh… ### 5/5 — For the love of words *2026-05-17* I’ve always been obsessed with word definitions and origins. Feel like the app is a great start, but needs more consistency across words. Words with Latin or Greek origins seem to have the best content at the moment. ## Frequently asked questions about Word Radicals ### What is Word Radicals' learning methodology? Word Radicals focuses on tracing the historical journey of words through different languages. It provides etymology chains, morpheme breakdowns, and classical lexicon sources to deepen understanding of word origins and their evolution. ### How does Word Radicals track user progress? Word Radicals does not explicitly mention progress tracking features. Its primary function is to provide information on word etymology, allowing users to explore and learn at their own pace. ### Does Word Radicals offer certifications? Word Radicals is an educational tool for exploring word origins and does not offer any formal certifications upon completion of its content. ### What are the pricing details for Word Radicals? Word Radicals is available for free, with no cost to download or use its core etymological features. ### Is Word Radicals suitable for all ages? Word Radicals has an age rating of 9+, making it suitable for younger learners interested in word origins and language. ### How frequently is Word Radicals updated? The latest version, 1.0.3, was released on May 28, 2026, indicating recent development activity. Users can expect ongoing support and potential updates. ### What devices support Word Radicals? Word Radicals is available on iPhone and iPad, offering a consistent experience across Apple's mobile devices. ### Does Word Radicals have ads? No, Word Radicals is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted learning experience without any advertisements. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.6 — 2026-08-30 Tap any root in a word's etymology chain to see the other English words that grew from it. Looking up "school" and tapping its Latin root schola turns up schola, shul and shulgoer alongside it — one root, four words. Also: groundwork for finding the words the dictionary is still missing, so they can be added. ### 1.0.5 — 2026-08-29 Feedback now sends straight from the app. Reporting a wrong etymology, a missing source, or a bug no longer needs a mail account set up on your device — write it and send it. A reply address is optional: leave it blank and your report stays anonymous. Feedback is also reachable from the main screen now, not only from a result, so you can report a problem even when a lookup isn't working. The feedback form scrolls, so longer reports and their source details stay in reach. ### 1.0.4 — 2026-08-22 Root Explorer: browse Latin, Greek, and Proto-Indo-European roots and the words that grew from them. Source Coverage: see which sources back each entry. Saved Words: bookmark words and return to them. A daily audited word on the home screen. Better suggestions when a word is misspelled, and an expanded etymology database. ### 1.0.3 — 2026-05-28 Added support for adjustable font sizes. ### 1.00.02 — 2026-04-12 Bug Fixes ## More apps by john mckenna - [Consider: Stock Portfolio](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consider-stock-portfolio/id6738743149) - [Moment: Stock Portfolio](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moment-stock-portfolio/id6769492753) - [Word Radicals: Latin & Greek](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-radicals-latin-and-greek/id6787704418) All apps by john mckenna: https://appshunter.io/developer/1313137362 ## Related topics [etymology](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/etymology) · [word origins](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/word-origins) · [origin word](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/origin-word) · [chinese etymology](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chinese-etymology) · [radicals](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/radicals) · [etymology online](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/etymology-online) · [etimolog](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/etimolog) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*