diary
UK[ˈdaɪəri]US[ˈdaɪəri]
n
A book in which you write down your personal experiences and thoughts each day.
n
A book with spaces for each day of the year, used for writing down future appointments and engagements.
Morpheme Breakdown
di
ary
di
day
ary
thing pertaining to
Etymology
The word 'diary' has a clear and logical journey from its Latin origins. It stems from the Latin phrase 'diarium', meaning 'daily allowance' or 'record of the day', which itself is derived from 'dies' (day). The suffix '-arius' was used to form adjectives and nouns indicating a relationship. Over time, the meaning narrowed from a general daily record to specifically a personal, daily journal. Thus, the literal construction 'thing pertaining to a day' perfectly captures its function as a daily log.
Analysis
Structure: di (day) + ary (thing pertaining to)
'di' originates from Latin 'dies', meaning 'day'. 'ary' is a suffix from Latin '-arius', denoting 'pertaining to' or 'connected with'.
Examples
She kept a detailed diary of her travels across Europe.
I'll check my diary to see if I'm free next Tuesday.
His childhood diaries provide a fascinating insight into his early life.