English
oblivious
Oblivious comes from Latin oblīviōsus ‘forgetful, oblivious’, and goes back to oblīvīscor.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEoblīvīscor‘to forget’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEoblīvium‘forgetfulness, oblivion’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEoblīviōsus‘forgetful, oblivious’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500oblivious‘forgetful’
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEoblīvīscor‘to forget’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEoblīvium‘forgetfulness, oblivion’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEoblīviōsus‘forgetful, oblivious’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500oblivious‘forgetful’
- Englishtodaysame form
Linked words
through Latin lēvis ‘smooth’
leave, relevant, elevator, elevation, lever, elevate, alleviate, levant, allege, levee, leger, levity, levitate, levitation, 27 more
Today it means
adj Lacking awareness; unmindful; unaware, unconscious of.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin oblīvīscor / oblivious