HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

cape¹

(kāp)

1. A sleeveless outer garment fastened at the throat and worn hanging over the shoulders.

2. A brightly colored cloth used in maneuvering the bull in a bullfight; a capote or muleta.

tr.v. caped, cap·ing, capes

To maneuver (the bull) by means of a cape in a bullfight.

[Middle French cape, from Spanish capa, from Late Latin cappa.]

cape²

(kāp)

n. Abbr. C.

A point or head of land projecting into a body of water.

[Middle English cap, from Old French, from Old Provençal, from Latin caput, head; see kaput- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Cape

(kāp) or Cape of

For names of actual capes, see the specific element of the names; for example, Hatteras, Cape; Good Hope, Cape of. Other geographic names beginning with Cape are entered under Cape; for example, Cape Town, South Africa; Cape York Peninsula.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products