deficient

Where does the word "deficient" come from? It comes from Latin deficere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Deficient’s story begins in Latin: deficere meant “to fail, to lack.” To make down from, to fail, to lack, from de- (down) and facere (to make). It reached English by 1400s as deficient. Settled as the English word for lacking something necessary. Today, deficient means lacking an essential quality or element that is required.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient deficere "to fail, to lack", to make down from, to fail, to lack, from de- (down) and facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s deficient "lacking something necessary or required", settled as the English word for lacking something necessary.