Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “derelict” come from?

Derelict comes from Latin derelictus, the past participle of derelinquo meaning "to abandon," formed from the prefix re- and a root from Proto-Indo-European wer- meaning "to turn."

derelict (English): Abandoned, forsaken; given up by the natural...

Definitions

  1. Abandoned, forsaken; given up by the natural...

Ancestry of “derelict”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinderelictusdiscarded, forsaken; abandoned, deserted;...
2Latindērelinquō—
3Latindē-—
4Latindē—
5Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
6Latinposteablative singular of postis
7Proto-Italicposti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “derelict”

  • dero
  • semiderelict
  • derro
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →