Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “opprobrious” come from?

Opprobrious comes from Old French oprobrieus, from Late Latin opprobriosus, combining Latin ob- (against) with obolus (small coin or pointed object), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- (to pierce).

opprobrious (English): Of or relating to opprobrium or disgrace; Tending...

Definitions

  1. Of or relating to opprobrium or disgrace; Tending...

Ancestry of “opprobrious”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchoprobrieus—
2Late Latinopprobriosusopprobrious
3Latinopprobriumreproach, taunt; scandal, disgrace, dishonour,...
4Latinopprobrō—
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

Words derived from “opprobrious”

  • opprobriously
  • opprobriousness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →