Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unprepossessingness” come from?

unprepossessingness (English) comes from English unprepossessing, from English prepossessing, from English prepossess, from English possess, from Middle English possessen, from Middle French possesser, from Old French possesser, from Latin possessus — to drink.

unprepossessingness (English): The state or condition of being unprepossessing

Definitions

  1. The state or condition of being unprepossessing

Ancestry of “unprepossessingness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunprepossessingUnimpressive or unremarkable; dull and ordinary;...
2EnglishprepossessingTending to invite favor; attracting confidence,...
3EnglishprepossessTo preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous...
4EnglishpossessTo have; to have ownership of; To take control of...
5Middle Englishpossessen—
6Middle Frenchpossesserto possess
7Old Frenchpossesserto possess
8Latinpossessuspossessed; seized
9Latinpossideō—
10Latinpotisable, capable, possible
11Proto-Italicpotis—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
13Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
14Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →