Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “obsessively” come from?

Obsessively comes from English obsess, from Latin obsessus meaning "besieged," combined with the Latin suffix -ivus, where ob- means "against" and sed- means "sit."

obsessively (English): In an obsessive manner; To an obsessive degree

Definitions

  1. In an obsessive manner; To an obsessive degree

Ancestry of “obsessively”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishobsessiveProne to cause obsession; Having one thought or...
2EnglishobsessTo be preoccupied with a single topic or emotion;...
3Latinobsessusinhabited; besieged; obsessed
4Latinobsideō—
5Latinob-towards; against
6Latinobolusobolus
7Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
8Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
9Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
10Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
11Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →