frequency
UK[ˈfriːkwənsi]US[ˈfriːkwənsi]
n
The rate at which something happens or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample.
n
The number of times that a periodic function repeats itself in a given unit of time, often measured in hertz.
Morpheme Breakdown
frequent
cy
frequent
repeated often
cy
state or condition
Etymology
The word 'frequency' originates from the Latin adjective frequens, meaning crowded, repeated, or occurring at short intervals. This Latin term itself is of uncertain deeper origin, though it may be connected to concepts of filling or crowding. The suffix '-cy', derived from Latin -tia, was added to form the abstract noun frequentia, signifying the condition or fact of being frequent or crowded together. Over time, this literal sense of crowdedness evolved in scientific and general English to specifically denote the rate of recurrence of an event or, in physics, the rate of oscillation of a wave.
Analysis
Structure: frequent (repeated often) + cy (state or condition)
- frequent: From Latin frequens (crowded, repeated, frequent), functioning as the core adjective root.
- cy: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (-tia, -cia), indicating a state, condition, or quality.
Examples
The frequency of bus services decreases after midnight.
This radio station broadcasts on a frequency of 98.5 MHz.
Complaints about the noise have increased in frequency.