Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “obiter” come from?

Obiter comes from Latin obiter, meaning incidentally or in passing, from the root meaning to go or travel.

obiter (English): Incidentally; in passing; An obiter dictum; a...

Definitions

  1. Incidentally; in passing; An obiter dictum; a...

Ancestry of “obiter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinobiteron the way; incidentally
2Latinob-towards; against
3Latinobolusobolus
4Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
5Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
6Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
7Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →