condition
Meaning
the particular state that something or someone is in
something that must be true or happen before something else can exist or be done
to make a person or animal think or behave in a particular way by influencing or training them over a period of time
to make something such as hair or leather softer and less dry by putting a special liquid on it
Structure
Usage
The car is in excellent condition.
One of the conditions of the job is that you agree to work abroad.
People are conditioned by the society they live in.
Etymology
The word 'condition' originates from the Latin condicio (later conditio), meaning "agreement, situation", derived from condicere meaning "to speak with, agree". This Latin verb is composed of con- (together) and dicere (to say). The core logic moves from the literal act of speaking together to reach terms (an agreement), to the terms or stipulations themselves, and finally to any state or circumstance on which something depends. This semantic evolution from a verbal agreement to a general state or prerequisite illustrates how abstract legal and social concepts become generalized in language.
Analysis
con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with". dit: From Latin dicere (to say, speak), but adapted to the spelling 'dit' as found in the modern word. ion: Latin suffix forming nouns of action or state.