rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -ment
French

-ment

an action, result, or means

Forms

  • -ment

Origin

Latin -mentum, a noun-forming suffix for a means or result of an action, passed into French.

Note

Became productive in English, including with verbs inherited from Old English.

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One accounting team holds a focused meeting within its distinct office area, other teams visible in separate rooms; only essential door label 'Accounts', no other text.
adjective

departmental

dee-pahrt-MEN-tuhl/ˌdiːpɑːrtˈmentl/

Relating to a division of an organization or institution.

Etymology
deLatindown, away; removal
+partLatinto divide
+mentFrenchan action, result, or means
+alFrenchrelating to

The pieces point to dividing something into parts. A department came to mean a distinct branch within a larger organization, so departmental describes what belongs to or concerns such a branch.

Full entry

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