-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.

338 / 371

noun

situation

sich-oo-AY-shuhn/ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn/

A position in relation to its surroundings.

The pedestrians' situation near the intersection leaves them surrounded by traffic.

An ordinary street intersection during heavy rain and a traffic delay, people responding to the shared circumstances, no readable signs.

Etymology

situatLatinto place, locate

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

From “to place,” situation first named a place or position. That physical position broadened into a position relative to circumstances—the state of affairs at a particular time.

In context

Ellis Brigham50:33

contrast that to the winter time because again, we're back to showers that form over the sea in the wintertime. So we have a situation where it's sea based convection.

Key Skills For Mountain Weather Forecasting

More examples

The house has a sheltered situation at the foot of the hill.
The castle's situation on a cliff made it difficult to attack.
We value the hotel's central situation near shops and restaurants.

Forms

situation · situations

situate verb — To place in a particular location.

Similar words

location: Names where something is, without necessarily describing its surroundings.
position: Emphasizes an exact spot relative to other things.
setting: Emphasizes the surrounding area rather than the place itself.