expedition
UK[ˌekspəˈdɪʃn]US[ˌekspəˈdɪʃn]
n
an organized journey for a particular purpose, especially exploration or research
n
a short trip for a specific purpose
n
a group of people, vehicles, or ships making such a journey
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
ped
ition
ex
out
ped
foot
ition
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'expedition' originates from the Latin 'expeditio', which itself derives from the verb 'expedire', meaning "to free the feet, to extricate, to prepare". This verb is a compound of 'ex-' ("out") and 'pes, pedis' ("foot"), conveying the literal image of freeing one's feet from a snare or impediment. Over time, the sense evolved from the act of preparation and liberation to signify a purposeful, often military, journey undertaken with speed and efficiency. The modern meaning retains this core idea of a planned and organized journey, typically for exploration, research, or a specific objective, carrying the historical connotation of purposeful and unencumbered movement.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + ped (foot) + ition (noun suffix)
- ex: Latin origin, meaning "out of, from".
- ped: Latin origin (from 'pes, pedis'), meaning "foot".
- ition: Latin suffix '-itio', forming nouns of action or state.
Examples
The team is preparing for a scientific expedition to the Arctic.
She made a quick expedition to the supermarket to buy milk.
The famous polar expedition was led by Ernest Shackleton.