detriment

The story

1. Latin · derived fromdetrimentum“loss, damage, literally a rubbing off”
2. Old French · derived fromdetriement
3. English todaydetriment

From Old French detriement, from Latin detrimentum (“loss, damage, literally a rubbing off”), from dēterere (“to rub off, wear”), from dē- (“down, away”) + terere (“to rub”). Detriment is related to the word detritus, and built on similar foundations to the word impediment.

Words from the same roots