in geology, 1795, "process of erosion" (a sense now obsolete), from Latin detritus "a wearing away," from detri-, stem of detere "wear away," from de "away" (see de-) + terere "to rub, wear" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn"). Sense of "loose fragments of rock produced by erosion" is 1802, probably from French detritus; incorrect, in any case. Figurative or transferred sense of "waste material, debris" is by 1834. Related: Detrital; detrited; detrition.
"worn down, worn by rubbing or friction" (obsolete), 1620s, from Latin attritus, past participle of atterere "to wear, rub away" (see attrition). Related: Attriteness.
1650s, "to wear a mask, to take part in a masquerade" (now archaic or obsolete), also transitive, "to cover with a mask or disguise;" from masquerade (n.). Related: Masqueraded; masquerader; masquerading.
c. 1300, from Old French vestment (12c., Modern French vêtement), from Latin vestimentum "clothing, clothes," from vestire "to clothe," from PIE *wes- (4) "to clothe" (see wear (v.)). Related: Vestments; vestmental.
"fall into disuse, grow obsolete," 1801, from Latin obsolescere "to grow old, wear out, lose value, become obsolete," inchoative of obsolere "fall into disuse" (see obsolete). Related: Obsolesced; obsolescing.
1767, "a lowering of value" (originally of currency), noun of action from depreciate. Sense of "a belittling, deliberate underestimation of the merits of a person, action, or thing" is from 1790. Meaning "loss of value of a durable good by age or wear" is from 1900.
"wear down or grind down by means of sustained actions," 1956, U.S. Air Force back-formation from attrition in the military sense. It attained currency during the Vietnam War. Related: Attritted; attritting.
"come through safely," 1650s, from weather (n.). The notion is of a ship riding out a storm. Sense of "wear away by exposure" is from 1757. Related: Weathered; weathering. Old English verb wederian meant "exhibit a change of weather."
