data
UK[ˈdeɪtə]US[ˈdeɪtə, ˈdætə]
n
Facts or information, especially when examined and used to find out things or make decisions
n
Information in a form that can be stored and used, especially on a computer
Morpheme Breakdown
dat
a
dat
given
a
plural suffix
Etymology
The word 'data' originates from the Latin neuter past participle 'datum', meaning "that which is given". It is derived from the verb 'dare' (to give), which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root dō-, meaning "to give". In its original philosophical and scientific context, 'data' referred to facts or premises "given" from which conclusions could be drawn. Over time, especially with the advent of computing, the term evolved from its literal sense of "givens" to its modern abstract meaning, referring to any collection of information, measurements, or statistics that serve as the basis for analysis and decision-making.
Analysis
Structure: dat (given) + a (plural suffix)
- dat: From Latin 'datum', meaning "a thing given". It is the neuter past participle of the verb 'dare' (to give).
- a: A Latin plural suffix for neuter nouns ending in '-um', indicating more than one "thing given".
Examples
The research team collected a vast amount of data from the clinical trials.
We need to back up the company's financial data regularly.
The conclusions were drawn from an analysis of the raw data.