obsess

UK: əbˈsɛs | US: əbˈsɛs

Definition

  1. vt. to preoccupy or haunt the mind persistently

  2. vi. to be excessively preoccupied with something (often + over/about)

Structure
ob <against>sess <sit>
Etymology

obsess = ob<against> + sess<sit>

  • ob (Latin ob-): "against, in the way of"
  • sess (Latin sedere): "to sit" (as in session, sedentary)

Etymology Origin:
The word obsess originates from Latin obsidēre ("to besiege"), combining ob- (against) + sedēre (to sit). The literal sense of "sitting against" (as in a military siege) evolved metaphorically to mean "haunting the mind" in the 16th century. The modern psychological connotation of fixation emerged later.

Examples

  1. She tends to obsess over small details.

  2. The idea of failure obsessed him for years.

  3. Social media can make people obsess about their appearance.

  4. He was obsessed with solving the mystery.

  5. Don’t obsess over things you can’t control.