constitution
UK[ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃn]US[ˌkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃn]
n
The system of laws and basic principles that a state, a country, or an organization is governed by.
n
The condition of a person's body and how healthy it is.
n
The way something is formed or the structure of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
stitut
ion
con
together, with
stitut
ion
Etymology
The word "constitution" originates from the Latin verb constituere, meaning "to set up, establish, arrange, or appoint". This verb itself is a compound of the intensive prefix con- ("together, with") and statuere ("to cause to stand, to set"). The core concept is one of establishing something in a firm, standing position. In ancient Rome, this applied to laws, decrees, and appointments. Over centuries, the meaning evolved through Old French (constitucion) into English, where it came to signify the fundamental, established principles upon which a state or entity is built. The modern abstract meanings—from the legal framework of a nation to the inherent makeup of a person or object—all stem from this original idea of a foundational setup or established order.
Analysis
Structure: con + stitut + ion
- con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with".
- stitut: Latin origin, from the root of statuere (to set up, to establish).
- ion: Latin origin, a noun-forming suffix indicating an action, process, or result.
Examples
The First Amendment is a crucial part of the American constitution.
She has a robust constitution and rarely gets sick.
The molecular constitution of the substance determines its properties.