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
- That does not result in destruction or damage
Ancestry of “nondestructive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | destructive | Causing destruction; damaging; Causing breakdown... |
| 2 | Middle French | destructif | — |
| 3 | Latin | dēstructīvus | destructive |
| 4 | Latin | dēstruō | to destroy, demolish, ruin |
| 5 | Latin | dē- | of; from |
| 6 | Latin | dē | of; concerning; about |
| 7 | Latin | post | behind; after, since, besides, except; behind,... |
| 8 | Latin | poste | ablative singular of postis |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | posti | behind, after |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pósti | after |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pós | afterwards, post; by, at |