edit
UK[ˈedɪt]US[ˈedɪt]
v
To prepare text, film, or sound for publication or broadcast by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it.
n
A change or correction made as a result of editing.
Etymology
The word 'edit' is a fascinating example of a back-formation, created in the late 18th century by removing the agent suffix '-or' from the much older word 'editor.' An editor was originally one who 'gives out' or publishes, stemming from the Latin edere. Over time, the focus shifted from the act of publishing to the preparatory work of selection and correction that precedes it. Thus, the modern abstract meaning of 'to edit'—involving revision, arrangement, and preparation of content—evolved logically from the core ancient idea of bringing something forth into public view.
Analysis
The word is a back-formation from the noun "editor." It is not productively composed of separable morphemes in modern English. Its ultimate origin is the Latin verb edere, meaning "to give out, put forth, publish," from e- (out) + dare (to give).
Examples
She took a long time to edit her essay before submitting it.
The director and the producer will edit the final cut of the movie next week.
That last sentence was a clever edit that improved the paragraph's flow.