capacity
UK[kəˈpæsəti]US[kəˈpæsəti]
n
The maximum amount that something can contain or produce.
n
The ability or power to do, experience, or understand something.
n
A specified role or position.
Morpheme Breakdown
cap
acity
cap
take, hold
acity
state or quality
Etymology
The word 'capacity' originates from the Latin 'capacitas', which itself derives from 'capax', meaning 'able to hold much'. The root 'cap-' comes from the Latin verb 'capere' (to take, seize, hold), a verb with a rich history traceable to the Proto-Indo-European root kap-, meaning 'to grasp'. The suffix '-acity' evolved from Latin '-acitas', a compound used to form abstract nouns expressing a state or condition. Thus, the literal "state of holding" evolved logically into the modern abstract meanings of containing volume, mental ability, or fulfilling a role, all conceptually linked to the idea of having room or capability to "hold" something, whether physical or abstract.
Analysis
Structure: cap (take, hold) + acity (state or quality)
cap (from Latin 'capere', meaning to take, seize, hold); acity (a noun-forming suffix from Latin '-acitas', indicating a state, condition, or quality).
Examples
The stadium has a seating capacity of 80,000.
She has a great capacity for learning languages.
He was acting in his capacity as a legal advisor.