Erode
/ɪˈroʊd/noun
To gradually wear away or destroy by natural forces, friction, or use.
Did you know?Erode comes from Latin *erodere*, literally “to gnaw away,” from *e-* “out” + *rodere* “to gnaw,” the same root behind *rodent* and *corrode*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rewd-
“to gnaw, bite, eat away”
Latin
Latin
rodere
“to gnaw, bite, nibble”
Latin
Latin
erodere
“to gnaw away, eat away”
Late Latin
Latin
erosus
“gnawed away, eaten out”
16th Century
English
erode
“to gnaw away or wear away gradually”
Modern English
English
erode
“to wear away gradually by natural processes or use”