Etymologically
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obstruo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:58. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.stru.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔb.stru.o][1]

Forms

obstruō (present infinitive obstruere, perfect active obstrūxī, supine obstrūctum); third conjugation[1] It is also spelled opstruō.[2]

Etymology

It is from ob- “against, in the way” and struō “to pile up, build”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of blocking light and choking the faculties.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to build up as a barrier, as in Livy, and in Caesar to block a road or entrance.[2] In Cicero it meant to block the light of a building and to choke the faculties, and in Seneca to stop the ears.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to close, stop up, hinder.[5] It survives in Italian ostruire, French obstruer and Spanish obstruir, and its participle obstrūctus gave English obstruct in the 1610s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of blocking light.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of blocking a road.[2][4]
  • 1610s – English obstruct is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To build as a barrier.[2]
  2. To block, obstruct.[2]
  3. To shut out the light of.[2]
  4. To stop (the ears); to choke.[2]

Word family

  • obstrūctiō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson