English word obstacle comes from Latin sto, Latin ob, and later Latin obstaculum (Obstacle, hindrance.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| sto | Latin (lat) | (Medieval Latin) I [currently] am (feel). (Medieval Latin) I am [located at]. I stand. I stay, remain. |
| ob | Latin (lat) | Against; facing. In the direction of, to, towards. On account of, according to, because of, due to, for (the purpose of). |
| obsto | Latin (lat) | I stand before, in the way of.. I thwart, hinder, obstruct, block. |
| obstaculum | Latin (lat) | Obstacle, hindrance. |
| obstacle | Old French (fro) | |
| obstacle | English (en) | Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress. |