exclamation
UK[ˌekskləˈmeɪʃn]US[ˌekskləˈmeɪʃn]
n
a short sound, word, or phrase spoken suddenly to express an emotion
n
a word or phrase used in exclaiming; an interjection
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
clam
ation
ex
out
clam
shout
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'exclamation' has a direct lineage from Latin. It is derived from the verb exclamare, which is a compound of the prefix ex- (meaning "out") and clamare (meaning "to shout or cry"). The literal sense is "to cry out," a forceful vocal projection. This concrete meaning evolved into the modern abstract concept of a sudden, emphatic utterance expressing strong feeling. The suffix -ation was added to form a noun describing the action or result of exclaiming, solidifying its grammatical role in English.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + clam (shout) + ation (noun suffix)
- ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out, out of, thoroughly".
- clam: Latin origin, from the root clamare, meaning "to shout, cry out".
- ation: Latin origin, a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, or the result of an action.
Examples
She gave an exclamation of surprise when she saw the gift.
"Wow!" is a common exclamation of amazement.
The sentence ended with an exclamation mark to show the writer's excitement.