Where does “enshittification” come from?
enshittification (English) comes from English shittification, from English shit, from Middle Dutch schite, from Old Dutch skīta, from Old Saxon skiti, from Proto-Germanic skītaz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱeyd-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
enshittification (English): The phenomenon of online platforms gradually degrading the quality of their services, often by promoting advertisements, recurring payments, and sponsored content, in order to increase profits
Definitions
- The phenomenon of online platforms gradually degrading the quality of their services, often by promoting advertisements, recurring payments, and sponsored content, in order to increase profits
Ancestry of “enshittification”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | shittification | The process of shittifying or becoming shitty |
| 2 | English | shit | Solid excretory product evacuated from the... |
| 3 | Middle Dutch | schite | — |
| 4 | Old Dutch | skīta | — |
| 5 | Old Saxon | skiti | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skītaz | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱeyd- | to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |