obsessive
UK[əbˈsesɪv]US[əbˈsesɪv]
adj
Thinking about something or someone too much or in a way that is not normal or healthy
n
A person who is unable to stop thinking about something or doing something in a way that is not normal or healthy
Morpheme Breakdown
ob
sess
ive
ob
against, towards
sess
sit
ive
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'obsessive' originates from the Latin verb obsidēre, meaning "to besiege". This verb itself is composed of ob- (against, towards) and sedēre (to sit), painting a vivid picture of an army sitting down before a town to blockade it. The past participle stem of this verb, obsess-, gave rise to the English noun 'obsession', which initially described the state of being besieged or haunted by an evil spirit. By the 17th century, the meaning evolved from a literal or supernatural siege to a figurative one, describing a persistent, dominating idea or emotion in the mind. The adjective 'obsessive' was subsequently formed in the early 19th century by adding the suffix -ive, characterizing a person or thought pattern that is "besieging" or excessively preoccupied in a manner akin to a mental blockade.
Analysis
Structure: ob (against, towards) + sess (sit) + ive (adjective suffix)
- ob: Latin prefix meaning "against, towards, in the way of".
- sess: From Latin root sedere (to sit), via the past participle stem sess-.
- ive: English suffix forming adjectives, from Latin -ivus, indicating a tendency, connection, or quality.
Examples
He is obsessive about cleanliness and washes his hands dozens of times a day.
Her obsessive attention to detail made her an excellent proofreader.
The film explores the dark side of obsessive love.