assignation
UK[ˌæsɪɡˈneɪʃn]US[ˌæsɪɡˈneɪʃn]
n
A secret meeting, especially one between lovers.
n
The act of assigning or allocating something.
Morpheme Breakdown
assign
ation
assign
to allot
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'assignation' originates from the Latin verb assignāre, meaning "to mark out, to allot, to appoint," which itself is a compound of ad- ("to") and signāre ("to mark," from signum, "a mark, sign"). The suffix -ation was added in Old French to form a noun of action. While its primary technical meaning historically was "the act of assigning," its specific modern sense of "a secret romantic appointment" developed in the 16th century. This semantic shift likely arose from the notion of a pre-arranged or appointed meeting, which, when done privately, took on connotations of secrecy and intimacy.
Analysis
Structure: assign (to allot) + ation (noun suffix)
assign: From Latin assignāre, meaning "to mark out, to allot". Its functional role is the core verb root.
ation: A Latin-derived suffix forming nouns of action or state from verbs. Its functional role is to nominalize the verb 'assign'.
Examples
The novel's plot hinges on a clandestine assignation in the garden.
The assignation of resources was handled by the project manager.
They exchanged letters to arrange their next assignation.