consolidation
UK[kənˌsɒlɪˈdeɪʃən]US[kənˌsɑːlɪˈdeɪʃən]
n
the action or process of making something stronger or more solid.
n
the process of combining a number of things into a single more effective or coherent whole.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
solid
ation
con
together
solid
firm
ation
action/state
Etymology
The word 'consolidation' is built from Latin components. The prefix 'con-' signifies "together", while the root 'solidus' means "firm" or "whole". The suffix '-ation' denotes the action or resulting state. The literal, ancient sense was "to make firm together". This logic evolved from the physical act of combining separate, potentially weak elements into a single, robust entity. Over time, the meaning broadened to encompass abstract processes, such as merging companies, strengthening power, or unifying ideas, while retaining the core concept of creating a stronger, more unified whole from disparate parts.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + solid (firm) + ation (action/state)
con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with".
solid: Latin origin, from 'solidus' meaning "firm, whole, undivided".
ation: Latin origin, a suffix forming nouns of action or state.
Examples
The consolidation of several small firms created an industry giant.
The peace treaty led to the consolidation of the emperor's power.
This exercise is for the consolidation of the grammar rules you learned this week.