appointment
UK[əˈpɔɪntmənt]US[əˈpɔɪntmənt]
n
an arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place
n
the act of choosing someone for a job or position
n
a job or position, especially an official one
Morpheme Breakdown
appoint
ment
appoint
to arrange, settle
ment
Etymology
The word 'appointment' originates from the Old French 'apointer', meaning "to arrange, settle, or place", which itself is derived from the phrase 'a point' meaning "to a point". This reflects the core idea of fixing something to a specific point in time or purpose. The suffix '-ment', of Latin origin via French, was added to form a noun indicating the action or result of appointing. Thus, the literal construction "the act of arranging to a point" evolved into the modern abstract meanings of a scheduled meeting, the act of assigning a role, or the assigned role itself, all centered on the concept of formal arrangement and designation.
Analysis
Structure: appoint + ment
appoint: From Old French 'apointer', meaning "to arrange, settle". In this word, it functions as the verb root meaning "to arrange or designate".
ment: From Latin '-mentum', a suffix forming nouns that denote the action or result of a verb. In this word, it functions as a noun-forming suffix.
Examples
I have a doctor's appointment at three o'clock.
The appointment of the new director was announced yesterday.
She held a high-level appointment in the government.