desuetude
pronunciation
How to pronounce desuetude in British English:
UK ['deswɪtju:d]
How to pronounce desuetude in American English:
US [ˈdɛswɪˌtud, -ˌtjud]
-
- Noun:
- a state of inactivity or disuse
Word Origin
- desuetude (n.)
- 1620s, from Middle French désuétude (16c.), from Latin desuetudo "disuse," from desuetus, past participle of desuescere "become unaccustomed to," from de- "away, from" (see de-) + suescere "become used to" (see mansuetude).
Example
- 1. Regrettably , this essential dialogue fell into desuetude following the coming into office of the blair-brown government in 1997 .
- 2. The association of irish with irish nationalism has helped bring this language back from its increasing desuetude in the 19th century , just as israeli nation-building has converted hebrew from being a merely written language into a national tongue .