compound
UK[ˈkɒmpaʊnd]US[ˈkɑːmpaʊnd]
n
A thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture.
n
An area enclosed by a fence or wall, containing a group of buildings.
v
To make something bad become worse by causing further harm.
v
To calculate interest on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods.
adj
Made up or consisting of several parts or elements.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
pound
com
together
pound
to put
Etymology
The word 'compound' originates from the Latin verb 'componere', meaning 'to put together'. This verb is a fusion of the prefix 'com-' (together) and 'ponere' (to put). It entered English via Old French 'compondre', carrying the core sense of combining elements into a whole. Over centuries, this literal meaning of physical combination broadened to encompass abstract mixtures (like chemical compounds), enclosed areas where buildings are 'put together', and the financial process where interest is 'put together' with principal.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + pound (to put)
- com: A Latin prefix meaning 'together', 'with', or 'jointly'. It assimilates to 'con-' before certain consonants.
- pound: From Latin 'ponere', meaning 'to put' or 'to place'. The form 'pound' is derived through Old French.
Examples
Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
The embassy staff live in a secure compound.
The problem was compounded by a lack of communication.