Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “insensible” come from?

Insensible derives from Old French insensible, from Late Latin insensibilis, combining the Latin prefix in- with a root from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- meaning "to be."

insensible (English): Unable to be perceived by the senses; Incapable...

Definitions

  1. Unable to be perceived by the senses; Incapable...

Ancestry of “insensible”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishinsensible—
2Old Frenchinsensible—
3Late Latininsensibilisimperceptible, insensible; undetectable
4Latinsensibilisperceptible, sensible; detectable
5Latinsensusfelt, perceived with the senses, having felt;...
6Latinsentirepresent active infinitive of sentiō;...
7LatinsentioI feel, I sense, I perceive; I perceive, I am...
8Proto-Italicsentjō—
9Proto-Indo-Europeansent-to head for, to go, to travel; to feel
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁es-to be

Words derived from “insensible”

  • insensibly
  • insensibleness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- →