entry
enervate
/ˈɛnərveɪt/to weaken or deprive of energy
From Latin e-/ē- (out) + Latin nerv- (nerve).
from Latin enervatus , past participle of enervare "to weaken" (see enervation ). Literal sense of "to weaken, impair"...
+1 more sourcefrom Latin enervatus , past participle of enervare "to weaken" (see enervation ). Literal sense of "to weaken, impair"...
+1 more sourceWord Ancestry
from Latin enervatus , past participle of enervare "to weaken" (see enervation ). Literal sense of "to weaken, impair"...
+1 more sourcefrom Latin enervatus , past participle of enervare "to weaken" (see enervation ). Literal sense of "to weaken, impair"...
+1 more sourcePicture a Roman physician describing a body whose sinews have gone slack: that is the image behind Latin ēnervō, “to weaken,” built around nervus, a nerve or sinew. English picked up the past-participle form ēnervātus around 1600, and soon enervate could describe not only a failing body but anything robbed of force. The nervous system, nervousness, and enervation all preserve the same ancient bodily metaphor: strength was imagined as something living in the nerves and sinews. Wait, really? To enervate someone is therefore almost to un-string them—to leave the bow, muscle, or soldier without its tension. Remember the word as “remove the nerve”: enervate does not energize; it takes the energy out.
The Story
Picture a Roman physician describing a body whose sinews have gone slack: that is the image behind Latin ēnervō, “to weaken,” built around nervus, a nerve or sinew. English picked up the past-participle form ēnervātus around 1600, and soon enervate could describe not only a failing body but anything robbed of force. The nervous system, nervousness, and enervation all preserve the same ancient bodily metaphor: strength was imagined as something living in the nerves and sinews. Wait, really? To enervate someone is therefore almost to un-string them—to leave the bow, muscle, or soldier without its tension. Remember the word as “remove the nerve”: enervate does not energize; it takes the energy out.
Modern Usage
To drain or steal someone’s energy, according to a low-quality slang usage.
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary entry
Kin & Kindred
From 'e-/ē-'·out, away, or thoroughly; here marking removal
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'nerv-'·nerve, sinew, bodily strength
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Etymonline
Urban Dictionary
Wikipedia
Wiktionary