Where does “distract” come from?
Distract comes from Latin distractus, past participle of distraho meaning to pull apart, from traho meaning to pull, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European tragʰ- meaning to draw or drag.
distract (English): To divert the attention of; To make crazy or...
Definitions
- To divert the attention of; To make crazy or...
Ancestry of “distract”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | distractus | divided, scattered; sold |
| 2 | Latin | distrahō | to draw, pull or drag asunder; tear in pieces, separate forcibly, divide; scatter |
| 3 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 4 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 5 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |