exit
UK[ˈeksɪt]US[ˈeɡzɪt]
n
A door or passage through which you can leave a building, vehicle, or place.
n
The act of leaving a place or situation.
v
To go out of or leave a place.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
it
ex
out
it
to go
Etymology
The word 'exit' entered English directly from Latin in the late 16th century. It is the third-person singular present active form of the Latin verb 'exire,' which is a compound of 'ex-' (out) and 'ire' (to go), literally meaning "he/she goes out." Originally used as a stage direction in plays to indicate when an actor should leave the scene, its usage broadened to refer to any means of departure. This evolution from a specific theatrical command to a general term for a departure or a doorway out demonstrates a classic path of semantic generalization, where the core literal meaning of "going out" remains perfectly intact.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + it (to go)
The morpheme 'ex-' originates from Latin, meaning "out of, from." The morpheme '-it' derives from the Latin verb 'ire,' meaning "to go."
Examples
Please use the emergency exit at the rear of the building.
His sudden exit from the meeting left everyone confused.
The software will exit automatically after saving the file.