-io

an action, process, or result

Forms

-io
-ion- — The longer form used before Latin endings.
-ion — The form carried into many English nouns.

Origin

An old Latin noun ending, inherited from earlier Indo-European word formation.

Note

The ending can name both an activity and what that activity produces.

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noun

effusion

ih-FYOO-zhun/ɪˈfjuːʒn/

An escape or outpouring of fluid.

An effusion of tears wets her cheeks as she embraces her friend.

An older woman gives an exuberant, tearful embrace to a friend: eyes squeezed shut, cheeks wet, mouth open in a joyful cry, and both arms wrapped tightly around her.

Etymology

efLatinout, away; also thoroughly

+fusLatinpour

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The pieces describe a pouring out. That physical image became figurative: feelings or words flow outward abundantly, as though they were liquid spilling from a container.

More examples

An effusion can make the knee swollen and painful.
The doctor drains the pleural effusion to ease her breathing.
Small effusions sometimes clear up without treatment.

Forms

effusion · effusions

Similar words

leakage: Emphasizes fluid escaping rather than collecting in a body cavity.
seepage: Specifically describes slow fluid escape through small openings or pores.