Where does “unobtainium” come from?
unobtainium (English) comes from English unobtainable, from English obtainable, from English obtain, from Middle English obteinen, from Middle French obtenir, from Old French obtenir, from Latin obtineo, from Latin ob- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.
unobtainium (English): A fictional material or component which, if it...
Definitions
- A fictional material or component which, if it...
Ancestry of “unobtainium”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | unobtainable | Unable to be obtained: not able to be acquired or... |
| 2 | English | obtainable | Able to be obtained |
| 3 | English | obtain | To get hold of; to gain possession of, to... |
| 4 | Middle English | obteinen | — |
| 5 | Middle French | obtenir | to obtain |
| 6 | Old French | obtenir | to obtain |
| 7 | Latin | obtineo | I have, occupy, possess, hold; I preserve, keep,... |
| 8 | Latin | ob- | towards; against |
| 9 | Latin | obolus | obolus (Greek coin) |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | ὀβολός | obol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and... |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | ὀβελός | a spit, rod; a horizontal line |
| 12 | Ancient Greek | βέλος | missile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly... |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷélHos | — |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷelH- | to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing |