damage
UK[ˈdæmɪdʒ]US[ˈdæmɪdʒ]
n
Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.
n
A sum of money claimed or awarded in compensation for a loss or an injury.
v
To inflict physical harm on something so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.
Etymology
The word 'damage' entered English in the 13th century from Old French damage, meaning "loss caused by injury." The Old French term derived from Vulgar Latin damnaticum, which itself came from the Latin verb damnum, signifying "loss, hurt, damage, fine." The ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root dap-, meaning "to apportion, to sacrifice," which carried connotations of a loss or a cost incurred. The semantic journey thus evolved from the ancient concept of a sacrificial cost or penalty to the modern, more general sense of harm or injury that results in a loss of value or function.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Old French. Its core form 'damage' functions as a single, unsegmentable unit in modern English.
Examples
The storm caused significant damage to the coastal village.
He was awarded substantial damages for the wrongful termination.
Smoking can seriously damage your health.