condo
UK[ˈkɒndəʊ]US[ˈkɑːndoʊ]
n
A condominium, especially an apartment in a building owned jointly by its residents.
Etymology
The word 'condo' is a mid-20th century American English clipping of 'condominium'. 'Condominium' itself entered English in the early 18th century from Modern Latin, where it meant 'joint rule or sovereignty' (from 'con-', meaning 'together', and 'dominium', meaning 'ownership, rule'). This legal term was later applied in the 1960s to a new form of real estate ownership where individuals own their individual units while sharing joint ownership of common areas. The clipped form 'condo' reflects the informal, fast-paced nature of real estate marketing and everyday speech, succinctly capturing the concept of private ownership within a collectively owned structure.
Analysis
This word is a clipped form and does not contain separable morphemes in its modern spelling. Its origin is from the full word 'condominium'.
Examples
They decided to buy a condo downtown for its convenience and amenities.
The monthly fees for the condo cover maintenance and security.
She rented out her condo while she was working abroad for a year.