Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “obsolescence” come from?

Obsolescence comes from Latin obsolescens, the present participle of obsolescere, meaning to fall into disuse, from ob- combined with solere, to be accustomed, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷélHos.

obsolescence (English): The state of being obsolete—no longer in use;...

Definitions

  1. The state of being obsolete—no longer in use;...

Ancestry of “obsolescence”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinobsolescenswearing out
2LatinobsolescoI wear out; I fall into disuse; I grow old
3Latinob-towards; against
4Latinobolusobolus
5Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
6Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
7Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
8Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
9Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

Words derived from “obsolescence”

  • nonobsolescence
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →