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DictionaryRoot: -atio
Latin

-atio

an action, process, or result

Forms

  • -atio
  • -ation- — Latin stem used outside the basic noun form.
  • -ation — Borrowed into English through French and Latin.

Origin

Latin -a-, associated with one class of verbs, plus the action-noun suffix -tio.

Note

The same formation can name either doing something or what the action produces.

39 / 398
Two lovers meet quietly in a secluded garden at night, glancing around to make sure their private meeting remains secret.
noun

assignation

as-ig-NAY-shun/ˌæsɪɡˈneɪʃn/

A secret meeting, especially between lovers.

Etymology
asLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis
+signLatinmark, indicate, or designate
+ationLatinan action, process, or result

From marking out or allotting something, assignation developed the sense of an appointment. This became a meeting by arrangement, especially a lovers’ tryst—the bridge to the secret romantic meeting meant today.

Full entry

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