[net.nlang] an obnoxious observation about prefi

preece (01/07/83)

#R:csu-cs:-195600:uicsl:8600001:000:203
uicsl!preece    Jan  5 14:40:00 1983

I seem to remember 'ob' is a Latin preposition meaning 'on account of,'
so I don't associate it with negation. 'Nocere' was 'to harm', as I recall,
so obnoxious would be 'on account of being harmful'?
c

notes@zeppo.UUCP (10/24/83)

#R:csu-cs:-195600:zeppo:10200001:000:266
zeppo!mmc    Jan  4 10:12:00 1983

The prefix 'ob' means 'against' (in a directional sense, as well
as figuratively), 'toward', 'in the way of', 'on account of', etc.
Thus,
	obloquy = speech against
	obdurate = hardened against
	obnoxious = harmful to
	object (v.) = throw in the way of [some notion]