Erosive
/ɪˈroʊ.sɪv/noun
Tending to wear away or gradually destroy by erosion.
Did you know?Erosive comes from the same Latin root as “erode,” ultimately tied to the idea of gnawing away—like a hidden, relentless devourer rather than a sudden strike.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃reudʰ-
“to gnaw, rub away”
Latin
Latin
rodere
“to gnaw, bite, wear away”
Late Latin
Latin
erosus
“gnawed away, eaten into”
Middle French
Old French
érosif
“causing erosion; wearing away”
Modern English
English
erosive
“tending to erode or wear away”