verb

logorare

wear away · wear out

Definition & meaning

Logorare is a transitive verb that generally refers to the act of wearing something out or exhausting someone or something over time. It can be used in both physical and figurative contexts:

Physical wear: To cause an object to deteriorate, become thin, or break down through constant friction, use, or the passage of time. For example, wearing out the soles of one's shoes.
Mental or physical exhaustion: To drain someone's energy, patience, or health. It describes a state where a person feels depleted or "worn down" by stress, worry, or intense labor.
Erosion or consumption: In a broader sense, it can refer to the gradual destruction or undermining of things like institutions, structures, or relationships.

Grammar & Word origin

Logorare is a regular first-conjugation verb (-are).

The etymology is uncertain, but it is widely believed to come from the late Latin lucrari (to gain), which shifted in meaning through the idea of "using up" or "consuming" resources. It is sometimes associated with the regional term logoro, referring to a decoy used in falconry, which was subjected to repeated use and wear.