Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “irresponsibility” come from?

Irresponsibility derives from English irresponsible, from Latin in- (not) and responsible, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ne (not) and oyd- (to bind), with -itas forming the abstract noun.

irresponsibility (English): The character or state of being irresponsible;...

Definitions

  1. The character or state of being irresponsible;...

Ancestry of “irresponsibility”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishresponsibilityThe state of being responsible, accountable, or...
2EnglishresponsibleHaving the duty of taking care of something;...
3Middle Frenchresponsable—
4Old Frenchresponsable—
5Latinrespōnsus—
6Latinrespondeō—
7Latinrĕ-—
8Latinprōdūcō—
9Latinprō-—
10Proto-Italic*pro-—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
13Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
14Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →