facet
UK[ˈfæs.ɪt]US[ˈfæs.ət]
n
one side of something many-sided, especially of a cut gem.
n
a particular aspect or feature of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
fac
et
fac
face
et
small
Etymology
the word 'facet' entered english in the early 17th century from the french 'facette', itself a diminutive of 'face'. the french term traces back to the latin 'facies', meaning 'face, form, appearance'. the semantic evolution is direct and logical: from the general concept of a 'face' or 'surface', the diminutive suffix created a term for a small, distinct plane on a gemstone. this concrete meaning was later extended metaphorically to describe a distinct aspect or feature of a more complex subject, much like one face of a multifaceted object.
Analysis
Structure: fac (face) + et (small)
fac (from latin 'facies', meaning face, appearance, form); et (a diminutive suffix of french origin, indicating a small version).
Examples
each facet of the diamond was polished to perfection.
the report examines every facet of the company's financial performance.
her personality has so many interesting facets.