flexion
UK[ˈflɛkʃən]US[ˈflɛkʃən]
n
The action of bending or the condition of being bent, especially of a limb or joint.
n
A bend or bent part; a curve.
n
(Grammar) Variation in the form of a word to express different grammatical functions; inflection.
Morpheme Breakdown
flex
ion
flex
bend
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'flexion' originates from the Latin flexionem (nominative flexio), which means 'a bending.' This noun is derived from the past participle stem (flex-) of the verb flectere, meaning 'to bend.' The core concept of bending traveled directly from Latin into English, retaining its physical sense related to joints and limbs. Over time, its application broadened metaphorically to describe the grammatical 'bending' or modification of words, a meaning now more commonly termed 'inflection.'
Analysis
Structure: flex (bend) + ion (noun suffix)
- flex: From Latin flectere (to bend). In this word, it functions as the root, carrying the core meaning of bending.
- ion: A suffix of Latin origin (-ionem) used to form nouns denoting an action or process, or its result.
Examples
The physiotherapist assessed the patient's knee flexion.
A sharp flexion in the pipe caused the blockage.
In some languages, noun flexion indicates case and number.