desuetude

American  

[des-wi-tood, -tyood] / ˈdɛs wɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

1. the state of being no longer used or practiced.

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desuetude British  

/ ˈdɛswɪtjuːd, dɪˈsjuːɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. formal the condition of not being in use or practice; disuse

   those ceremonies had fallen into desuetude

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Etymology

Origin of desuetude

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin dēsuētūdo, equivalent to dēsuē-, base of dēsuēscere “to become disaccustomed to, unlearn” ( dē- de- + suēscere “to become accustomed to”) + -tūdō -tude

Example Sentences

Certainly we must now be set on a path to mental decay and desuetude.

From Washington Post

That photograph, when seen on the gallery wall, potently conveys the quandary of a man, aging but still vigorous, who has been consigned to pampered desuetude in his Palm Desert retirement.

From New York Times

By the fourth century, the gardens had apparently fallen into desuetude, and statuary in the abandoned pavilions was broken into pieces to build the foundations of a series of spas.

From New York Times

“This is the eschaton through lack of access, but also through human atrophy, debility, the desuetude of critical function.”

From New York Times

This is the eschaton through lack of access, but also through human atrophy, debility, the desuetude of critical function.

From New York Times