Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “abolitionism” come from?

Abolitionism derives from English abolition, from Middle French abolition, from Ancient Greek -μός and Proto-Indo-European -mós combined with Latin ab- meaning "away from," ultimately tracing through Latin oleum and Ancient Greek ἔλαιον meaning "oil," denoting the act of doing away with something entirely.

abolitionism (English): Support for the abolition of something; the...

Definitions

  1. Support for the abolition of something; the...

Ancestry of “abolitionism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishabolitionThe act of abolishing; an annulling; abrogation;...
2Middle Frenchabolition—
3Latinabolitiō—
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “abolitionism”

  • antiabolitionism
  • anti-abolitionism
  • аболиционизм
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →