'obscenity' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'obscēnitās', where 'ob-' meant 'against' and 'scēna' meant 'scene'.

'obscēnitās' transformed into the French word 'obscénité', and eventually became the modern English word 'obscenity' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'offensive to the senses', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'offensive or indecent word or phrase'.