The Latin word for "obese" is obēsus.
The English term "obese" is directly derived from this Latin word. In Latin, obēsus meant "fat" or "stout," describing a physical state of being overweight.
The Etymology of Obēsus
Delving into the origins of obēsus reveals its deeper linguistic roots:
- Root Verb: It is believed to be the past participle of an earlier Latin verb, **obedere.
- Original Connotation: The verb **obedere potentially carried the original meaning of "to gnaw."
- Component Breakdown: The word is composed of two distinct Latin elements:
- *ob-: A Latin prefix that translates to "against" or "over."
- *edere: The Latin verb for "to eat."
This etymological journey suggests a progression in meaning from the act of "gnawing" or "eating excessively" (implied by "eating over" or "against") to the resulting physical state of being "fat" or "stout." The transformation from an action of consumption to a descriptor of physical build highlights how the Latin language captured this concept, which was later adopted into English vocabulary.
