Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unconsciousness” come from?

Unconsciousness derives from English unconscious, which combines English un- with English conscious, itself from Latin conscius meaning "aware together," formed from Latin con- meaning "with" and Latin scīre meaning "to know."

unconsciousness (English): The state of lacking consciousness, of being...

Definitions

  1. The state of lacking consciousness, of being...

Ancestry of “unconsciousness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunconsciousNot awake; having no awareness; Without directed...
2EnglishconsciousAlert, awake; with one's mental faculties active;...
3Latinconsciusconscious; aware , privy; guilty
4Latinconsciō—
5Latincōn-—
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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