desuetude

[ des-wi-tood, -tyood ]
/ ˈdɛs wɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

the state of being no longer used or practiced.

Origin of desuetude

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin dēsuētūdo, equivalent to dēsuē-, base of dēsuēscere to become disaccustomed to, unlearn ( dē- de- + suēscere to become accustomed to) + -tūdō -tude

Example sentences from the Web for desuetude

British Dictionary definitions for desuetude

desuetude
/ (dɪˈsjuːɪˌtjuːd, ˈdɛswɪtjuːd) /

noun

formal the condition of not being in use or practice; disuse those ceremonies had fallen into desuetude

Word Origin for desuetude

C15: from Latin dēsuētūdō, from dēsuescere to lay aside a habit, from de- + suescere to grow accustomed