Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “abolition” come from?

Abolition comes from Middle French abolition, from Latin abolitio, derived from Latin aboleo meaning "to destroy or do away with," itself formed from the prefix ab- meaning "away" combined with a root ultimately from Ancient Greek ἔλαιον.

abolition (English): The act of abolishing; an annulling; abrogation;...

Definitions

  1. The act of abolishing; an annulling; abrogation;...

Ancestry of “abolition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchabolition—
2Latinabolitiō—
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “abolition”

  • abolitionist
  • abolitionism
  • antiabolitionist
  • abolitionize
  • antiabolitionism
  • abolitionary
  • abolitional
  • abolitiondom
  • anti-abolitionism
  • abolitionise
  • abolitionistic
  • аболиционизм
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →