rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -ation
English

-ation

an action, process, or result

Forms

  • -ation

Origin

Borrowed through French from Latin -atio, the form of an action ending used with many -are verbs.

Note

English speakers later attached this ending to bases that were not themselves Latin verbs.

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noun

fraternization

frat-er-nuh-ZAY-shn/ˌfrætərnəˈzeɪʃn/

Friendly social contact, especially with people one is forbidden to associate with.

The guard's fraternization with the inmate includes a friendly chess game over tea.

A uniformed prison guard and an inmate sit together inside an open barred cell, smiling companionably over a chess game and two mugs of tea.
Etymology
fraternLatinbrotherly
+izEnglishmake, become, or treat in a particular way
+ationEnglishan action, process, or result

Originally an act of uniting as brothers, fraternization came to mean friendly social contact. Military use gave it the implication of crossing boundaries that discipline required people to respect.

In context

Law Office of Peter Kageleiry Jr.1:31
there are a few exceptions to fraternization such as if a couple is married prior to attaining their ranks and positions of differing status
What is Fraternization in the Military

More examples

  • The company bans fraternization between supervisors and their direct reports.
  • Guards face discipline for fraternization with prisoners.
  • The annual picnic encourages fraternization among neighbors.

Forms

fraternize verb — To associate with others on friendly terms.

Similar words

socializing
Friendly interaction without necessarily suggesting forbidden or inappropriate contact.
mingling
Mixing casually with others, often at a social gathering.