Obsessive
/əbˈsɛsɪv/noun
Characterized by persistent, intrusive, and difficult-to-control thoughts or behaviors.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin military language: obsessus meant “besieged,” and later Christian writers used related forms for demonic possession or oppressive spiritual influence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sed-
“To sit or be seated”
Classical Latin
Latin
sedēre
“To sit, remain, or be seated”
Classical Latin
Latin
obsidēre
“To sit against or besiege a place”
Classical Latin
Latin
obsessus
“Besieged, surrounded, or occupied”
Late Latin
Latin
obsessiō
“A besieging or occupying; later, oppressive possession”
16th Century
English
obsession
“A fixed or haunting idea; originally a state of being besieged”
19th Century
English
obsessive
“Characterized by obsession or persistent preoccupation”