coinage
UK[ˈkɔɪnɪdʒ]US[ˈkɔɪnɪdʒ]
n
the act or process of making coins
n
coins considered as a group
n
the invention of a new word or phrase
Morpheme Breakdown
coin
age
coin
age
Etymology
The word 'coinage' has a literal foundation in metalworking. Its core, 'coin', originates from the Latin 'cuneus', meaning a wedge—the essential tool used to stamp metal blanks to produce currency. The suffix '-age', denoting a process or result, was attached in Old French. Thus, the term's primary meaning logically evolved from "the process of stamping coins" to encompass the resulting "system of coins" collectively. This concrete process of creation later provided a perfect metaphorical extension, giving us the abstract sense of "the invention of new words."
Analysis
Structure: coin + age
coin: From Old French 'coigne' (wedge, stamp for coining), from Latin 'cuneus' (wedge). Functions as the base noun/verb denoting the object or action of stamping metal.
age: From Old French '-age', from Latin '-aticum' (noun-forming suffix denoting an action, process, or result). Functions as a suffix forming a noun indicating a process, result, or collective concept.
Examples
The coinage of silver dollars began in the 18th century.
The country is planning to introduce a new coinage.
"Blog" is a recent coinage in the English language.