-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.

223 / 371

noun

intuition

in-too-ISH-uhn/ˌɪntuˈɪʃn/

An immediate understanding or belief reached without conscious reasoning.

Her intuition tells her that the quiet child needs comfort.

An adult teacher immediately senses that a quiet child beside the classroom doorway is upset and gently offers a hand, before any explanation.

Etymology

inLatinin, into, on, upon

+tuitLatinlook at, watch, or protect

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The pieces give the image of “looking at” something. This became mental insight or direct perception: understanding that seems immediately seen rather than reached through conscious reasoning.

In context

The Death Care Journal 10:48

Families get an intuition or something that tells them they need to call and find something out.

Responsibilities Of a Deputy Coroner

More examples

He trusted his intuition when choosing the route.
The result contradicted my initial intuition.
She had an intuition that something important was missing.

Forms

intuition

Similar words

hunch: More informal and often concerns one specific suspicion.
instinct: Instinct can refer to innate behavior rather than an immediate judgment.