Dictionary

-ion en · X · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion Reanalysed from -ation, -tion, from Middle French -tion, -cion, from Latin -tiō. By surface analysis, this suffix is added to verbs derived from Latin perfect participle stems.

Meanings

1. (countable, idiomatic, morpheme, uncountable) An action or process, or the result of an action or process.
   • reaction
   • transfixion
2. (countable, idiomatic, morpheme, uncountable) A state or condition.
   • bisection
   • indirection

Forms

Relateds

-ation · -tion · -sis

-ion en · X · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /aɪən/ (General-American)
• /ɪən/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Possibly reanalysed from inion, which is of Ancient Greek origin. In many cases also analysable as the neuter form of an Ancient Greek adjective in -ιος (-ios).

Meanings

1. (morpheme) An anthropometric reference point.
   • dactylion
2. (morpheme) An anthropometric reference point. ▸ Especially craniometric points
   • gnathion

Forms

Deriveds

stomiontrochanterion · phalangion · sellion · omphalion · sphyrion · xiphion · pternion · symphysion

Relateds

mesophryon

Synonyms

-ale

-ion en · X · etymology 3

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀπόγειον (apógeion, “apogee”), containing -ιον (-ion). Compare also -ium.

Meanings

1. (morpheme) Together with apo- and peri-, forms names of specific apoapsides and periapsides.
   • periareion

Forms