-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.

310 / 371

noun

repetition

rep-uh-TISH-un/ˌrepəˈtɪʃn/

The act or instance of doing or saying something again.

Each repetition of the stamping action leaves another round impression in the clay.

Close-up of an adult craft worker repeatedly pressing one plain round stamp onto a narrow strip of clay.

Etymology

reLatinback, again; restoration or reversal

+petitLatinseek, aim at; request

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The elements meaning “again” and “go to” formed a verb meaning “do or say again.” The noun names that repeated action, first recorded in English for saying something over again.

In context

TED6:41

So religions are cultures of repetition. They circle the great truths again and again and again.

Atheism 2.0 | Alain de Botton

More examples

Please avoid repetition when you summarize the main points.
The exercise calls for ten repetitions of each movement.
After several repetitions, everyone knows the words to the song.

Forms

repetition · repetitions

repeat verb — Do or say something again.

repetitive adjective — Involving the same thing many times.

Similar words

reiteration: Emphasizes saying something again, often to reinforce a point.
duplication: Usually involves making another copy rather than repeating an action.