Where does “deconstruct” come from?

Deconstruct comes from English construct with the prefix de- from Latin de, ultimately from Latin construo meaning to build together, from the prefix con- meaning with or together.

deconstruct (English): To break something down into its component parts;...

Definitions

  1. To break something down into its component parts;...

Ancestry of “deconstruct”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconstructSomething constructed from parts; A concept or...
2Latinconstructuscollected together; constructed, fabricated,...
3Latincōnstruōto heap, bring, collect or gather together
4Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt
11Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
12Old High Germankuti
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “deconstruct

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-Every word from Latin cōn-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet-