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
- The state of being obsolete—no longer in use;...
Ancestry of “obsolescence”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | obsolescens | wearing out |
| 2 | Latin | obsolesco | I wear out; I fall into disuse; I grow old |
| 3 | Latin | ob- | towards; against |
| 4 | Latin | obolus | obolus (Greek coin) |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ὀβολός | obol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ὀβελός | a spit, rod; a horizontal line |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | βέλος | missile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷélHos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷelH- | to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing |