capitalization
Meaning
the act of providing money for a company, activity, etc., or the money provided
the total value of a company's shares on a stock market
the use of capital letters in writing
Structure
Usage
the company is considering a change in its capitalization strategy to fund new projects.
the firm's market capitalization has doubled in the last year.
proper capitalization is important for clarity in formal writing.
Etymology
the word 'capitalization' has a layered history rooted in the concept of the head. its journey begins with the proto-indo-european root kaput-, meaning 'head', which evolved into the latin caput. from caput came capitalis, an adjective meaning 'of the head' or 'chief', which in medieval latin extended to refer to the principal sum of money, the 'head' or source of wealth. the addition of the verb-forming suffix '-ize' created 'capitalize', meaning to convert into or provide with capital. finally, the noun suffix '-ation' was appended to form 'capitalization', denoting the process or result of this action. thus, the term's modern financial and orthographic meanings both stem from the ancient metaphorical link between the head as the primary or topmost part and capital as primary wealth or uppercase letters.
Analysis
capital: from latin capitalis (of the head, chief, principal), from caput (head). functions as the core root denoting the principal sum or the idea of something primary. ize: from greek -izein via latin -izare, a verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make, to become, to subject to'. ation: from latin -ationem, a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, or the result of an action.