Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nondestructive” come from?

Nondestructive comes from the English prefix non- combined with destructive, which derives from Middle French destructif, Latin destructivus, and ultimately Latin struo meaning to build or construct.

nondestructive (English): That does not result in destruction or damage

Definitions

  1. That does not result in destruction or damage

Ancestry of “nondestructive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdestructiveCausing destruction; damaging; Causing breakdown...
2Middle Frenchdestructif—
3Latindēstructīvus—
4Latindēstruō—
5Latindē-—
6Latindē—
7Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
8Latinposteablative singular of postis
9Proto-Italicposti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “nondestructive”

  • nondestructively
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →