delectation

The story

1. Proto-Italic · derived from*lakjō“to draw, pull”
2. Latin · derived fromdēlectō“to delight, charm, please”
3. Latin · derived fromdēlectātiōnem
4. Old French · derived fromdelectation“enjoyment”
5. English todaydelectation

Attested from the mid 14th century, from Old French delectation (“enjoyment”), from Latin dēlectātiōnem, accusative singular of dēlectātiō, from the verb Latin dēlectō (“to delight, charm, please”), frequentative of dēliciō, from de- (“away”) + laciō (“to lure, to deceive”), from Proto-Italic *lakjō (“to draw, pull”), of unknown ultimate origin. By surface analysis, delect + -ation or delectate + -ion. Related to delight and delicious.

Words from the same roots