obire

Obire is a classical Latin verb meaning to go toward or to approach, and it can also carry meanings such as to meet, to attend, or to undertake. In some contexts it can refer to passing away or dying, especially when used in compounds or fixed expressions. The form is built with the prefix ob- attached to the verb ire, yielding a verbal family that behaves like other -īre verbs in Latin.

In standard Latin grammar, obire has the typical -īre verb morphology and is usually presented with the principal parts obīō, obīre, obīvī, obītum. The verb participates in the regular tense, mood, and voice system of Latin, forming active and passive constructions, with a supine obītum and a passive participle obītus in common usage. Because obire is a prefixed verb, it often occurs in compounds that nuance the sense toward direction, proximity, opposition, or intensification of the action.

Etymologically, obire is analyzed as ob- plus -īre, reflecting its core meaning of moving toward or toward a goal. A related noun form is obitus, meaning a going toward, with extended usage to denote death or demise in many Latin authors. From this family, related loanwords and derivatives entered later languages, and the English term obituary ultimately traces back to the same lineage.

Obire is primarily of scholarly interest today, notably in the study of Latin grammar, vocabulary, and the formation of compound verbs. See also obituary, obit, and obitus for connected terms in Latin and English.