Desuetude
/ˈdɛs.wɪ.tuːd/noun
The state of being disused, obsolete, or no longer practiced.
Did you know?In legal history, desuetude can describe a law becoming unenforceable through prolonged nonuse, as though neglect slowly erased its authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sweh₂-
“To become accustomed or make familiar; the reconstructed root underlying the Latin family”
Classical Latin
Latin
suēscere
“To become accustomed or grow used to”
Classical Latin
Latin
desuēscere
“To become unaccustomed; to fall out of use”
Late Latin
Latin
desuētūdō
“Disuse or loss of customary practice”
Medieval French
Old French
desuetude
“Disuse or obsolescence”
16th Century
English
desuetude
“The condition of being disused or obsolete”
Explore more surprising origins