abbreviation
UK[əˌbriːviˈeɪʃn]US[əˌbriviˈeɪʃn]
n
a short form of a word or phrase, for example, tbc, cia, or dr.
n
the process or result of making a word or piece of writing shorter.
Morpheme Breakdown
ab
brevi
ation
ab
to, toward, from
brevi
short
ation
Etymology
the word "abbreviation" is built directly from latin components. the prefix "ab-" here intensifies the sense of "to" or "toward" a state. the core root "brevi" derives from the latin adjective "brevis," meaning "short." the suffix "-ation" is a productive noun-forming ending in english, borrowed from latin "-atio," which denotes an action or its result. thus, the literal construction "a process of making short" perfectly captures the modern meaning: the act of shortening a word or the shortened form itself.
Analysis
Structure: ab + brevi + ation
ab- (latin prefix, meaning "to, toward, from"), brevi (latin root, from "brevis" meaning "short"), -ation (latin suffix, forming nouns indicating an action or process).
Examples
"etc." is a common abbreviation for the latin phrase "et cetera."
the use of abbreviation is widespread in technical manuals and text messages.
please write the term in full, not as an abbreviation, for formal documents.