Obstructing
/əbˈstrʌktɪŋ/noun
Preventing or hindering movement, progress, or activity.
Did you know?The verb comes from Latin obstruere, combining ob- (“against”) with struere (“to build or pile up”), making obstruction linguistically a form of construction.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*streu-
“To spread, pile up, or arrange materials”
Classical Latin
Latin
struere
“To build, heap up, or arrange”
Classical Latin
Latin
obstruere
“To build against; block or barricade”
Late Latin
Latin
obstructus
“Blocked, shut up, or hindered”
15th Century
English
obstruct
“To block or impede”
Modern English
English
obstructing
“Currently blocking, hindering, or impeding”