Where does “inattention” come from?
Inattention derives from French inattention, formed from the French prefix in- and Latin in-, both negating prefixes ultimately descended from Proto-Indo-European ád.
inattention (English): Lack of attention, or failure to pay attention;...
Definitions
- Lack of attention, or failure to pay attention;...
Ancestry of “inattention”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | inattention | inattention |
| 2 | French | attention | attention; vigilance; consideration,... |
| 3 | Italian | attenzione | attention; watch out!; look out!; take care!;... |
| 4 | English | attention | Mental focus; An action or remark expressing... |
| 5 | Middle English | attencioun | — |
| 6 | Latin | attentio | attention, attentiveness |
| 7 | Latin | -tiō | tion, -ation, -ing |
| 8 | Latin | dissertātiō | (spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition |
| 9 | Latin | dissertus | arranged, disposed; explained |
| 10 | Latin | disserere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 11 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 12 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 13 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 14 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |