obsess etymology

Etymology:

• Latin: ob + sessum

Meaning:

To be preoccupied with or fixated upon a particular idea, object, or person to an unhealthy or excessive degree.

Origin:

The word "obsess" derives from two Latin roots:

• Ob-: A prefix meaning "over" or "against"
• Sessum: The past participle of sedere, meaning "to sit"

In its original Latin usage, "obsess" meant "to lay siege to" or "to besiege." It referred to the military tactic of encircling a city or fortress and preventing entry or exit.

Over time, the meaning of "obsess" evolved to its current psychological sense. When someone becomes besieged by thoughts or emotions, it's as if their mind has become a fortress under siege. They are unable to escape or defend themselves from the relentless thoughts that haunt them.

Historical Development:

• 13th century: First used in English to refer to military sieges.
• 14th century: Began to be used metaphorically for excessive mental preoccupations.
• 16th century: Became established as a psychological term, particularly in the context of religious mania.
• 19th century: Sigmund Freud adopted it into psychoanalysis to describe an unconscious process in which unwanted thoughts or emotions are repressed into the subconscious.

obsess relate terms

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