annexation
UK[ˌæn.ekˈseɪ.ʃən]US[ˌæn.ekˈseɪ.ʃən]
n
the act of taking control of a country, region, or other area and adding it to your own.
n
something that has been added or attached, especially a building added to a larger one.
Morpheme Breakdown
annex
ation
annex
to bind to
ation
Etymology
the word 'annexation' originates from the latin verb 'annectere', meaning 'to bind or tie to', which itself is composed of 'ad-' (to) and 'nectere' (to bind). the past participle 'annexus' gave rise to the english verb 'annex', signifying the act of attaching or incorporating. the addition of the noun-forming suffix '-ation' transforms the action into a state or process, resulting in the modern abstract meaning of the formal acquisition and incorporation of territory. thus, the literal concept of 'binding to' evolved into the political and legal process of adding land to a sovereign domain.
Analysis
Structure: annex + ation
annex (from latin 'annexus', past participle of 'annectere' meaning 'to bind to'); ation (latin suffix '-ationem', forming nouns of action or state).
Examples
the annexation of the territory by the empire was met with international condemnation.
the historical debate often centers on the legality of the annexation.
the new library wing is a modern annexation to the original victorian building.