Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “insensate” come from?

Insensate comes from Latin insensatus, formed from the prefix in- and sensatus, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- meaning to be or exist.

insensate (English): Having no sensation or consciousness;...

Definitions

  1. Having no sensation or consciousness;...

Ancestry of “insensate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latininsensatusirrational
2Latinsensatussensible, intelligent, gifted with sense
3Latinsēnsus—
4Dutchcensus—
5Latincensuscensus, a registering of the populace and their...
6LatincenseoI give an opinion; I think, suppose or judge; I...
7Proto-Italickensēōto give an opinion
8Proto-Italickensējō—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱens-éh₁-ye-ti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱens-to announce, to proclaim; to put in order
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱem-to cover, conceal; hornless

Words derived from “insensate”

  • insensately
  • insensateness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱem- →