formation

The word 'formation' entered English in the late 14th century via Old French from the Latin formationem (nominative formatio), a noun of action from the past-participle stem of formare meaning 'to form'. The Latin verb formare itself derives from forma, a word of debated but possibly Etruscan origin, which carried the core sense of a mold, shape, or contour. Thus, the etymological logic flows from the concrete concept of giving a physical shape (formare) to the abstract processes of creation and development (formation), and finally to the tangible results of those processes, such as geological or tactical formations.

Structure: form (shape) + ation (noun suffix) 'form' originates from Latin forma (shape, mold, beauty). 'ation' is a noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (-ationem), indicating an action or process, or its result.