supersede

Where does the word "supersede" come from? It comes from Latin super sedere, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).

Supersede’s story begins in Latin: super sedere meant “to sit above, to refrain from.” To sit above, to refrain from, from super- (above) and sedere (to sit). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as superseder. Carried into French for setting something aside in favor of another. It reached English by 1500s as supersede. Settled as the English word for taking the place of something considered outdated. Today, supersede means to take the place of something considered old, outdated, or inferior.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient super sedere "to sit above, to refrain from", to sit above, to refrain from, from super- (above) and sedere (to sit).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval superseder "to set something aside in favor of another", carried into French for setting something aside in favor of another.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s supersede "to take the place of something considered outdated", settled as the English word for taking the place of something considered outdated.