Stagnate
/ˈstæɡ.neɪt/noun
To cease to flow, move, or develop; to become inactive or stale.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *stagnum*, meaning “a pool of standing water,” so the modern idea of being stuck is built into the word’s oldest form.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“to stand, be firm, remain fixed”
Latin
Latin
stagnum
“a pool, standing water”
Late Latin
Latin
stagnāre
“to flood, stand still, become stagnant”
14th Century
English
stagnaten
“to cease flowing or moving; to become motionless”
Modern English
English
stagnate
“to stop developing or making progress”