appreciation
UK[əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃn]US[əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃn]
n
Recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
n
A full understanding of a situation.
n
A rise in the monetary value of an asset.
Morpheme Breakdown
ap
preci
ation
ap
preci
ation
Etymology
The word 'appreciation' originates from the Late Latin verb 'appretiare', meaning 'to set a price on, appraise'. This verb itself is a compound of the Latin prefix 'ad-' (meaning 'to') and 'pretium' (meaning 'price, value'). The core semantic journey is from the concrete act of assessing monetary worth to the more abstract acts of recognizing value, understanding significance, and, in finance, an increase in value. The suffix '-ation' nominalizes the action, solidifying it as a state or process. Thus, the modern meanings all logically extend from the fundamental concept of assigning or recognizing value.
Analysis
Structure: ap + preci + ation
ap (Latin origin, variant of 'ad-', meaning 'to, towards'. Functional role: prefix indicating direction or addition.)
preci (Latin origin, from 'pretium', meaning 'price, value'. Functional role: root conveying the core meaning of worth.)
ation (Latin origin, suffix '-atio(n-)', forming nouns of action or state. Functional role: suffix forming an abstract noun.)
Examples
She expressed her deep appreciation for their generous support.
The course gave me a greater appreciation of the complexities of international law.
The rapid appreciation of the currency made exports more expensive.