English
destitute
Destitute comes from Latin dēstituō ‘to set in place’, from statuō ‘to put up (something)’, and ultimately from Proto-Italic *statuō ‘to erect, set up’.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*statuō‘to erect, set up’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatuō‘to put up (something)’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēstituō‘to set in place’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēstitūtusparticiple of dēstituō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500destitute
- Englishearliest quotation 1611same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*statuō‘to erect, set up’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatuō‘to put up (something)’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēstituō‘to set in place’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēstitūtusparticiple of dēstituō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500destitute
- Englishearliest quotation 1611same form
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “In thee is my trust; leave not my soul…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
post, system, stay, stand, rest, distance, assistant, stadium, assistance, instance, stood, stable, assist, consistent, establishment, instant, establish, substance, distant, contest, stability, stem, insist, resist, consist, static, destination, persistent, testimony, persist, stationary, stool, stud, extant, stale, stamina, distal, armistice, subsistence, stow, 152 more
through Proto-Italic *status ‘setting up’
state, statuette, estado, 6 more
through Latin statuō ‘to put up (something)’
institute, constitution, statue, institution, substitute, statute, prostitution, constituent, constitute, substitution, prostitute, restitution, 6 more
Another origin of destitute
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500destituten
- Englishtodaydestitute
Today it means
adj Lacking something; devoid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *statuō / destitute