humiliation
UK[hjuːˌmɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən]US[hjuːˌmɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən]
n
the feeling of being ashamed or losing respect for yourself, or an occasion when you have this feeling
n
the act of making someone feel ashamed or stupid and lose the respect of other people
Morpheme Breakdown
humil
i
ation
humil
low
i
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'humiliation' traces its lineage directly to the latin noun humiliatio, meaning a lowering or humbling. this, in turn, derives from the verb humiliare ('to humble'), which is built upon the adjective humilis ('low, lowly, on the ground'). the root of humilis is humus, the latin word for 'earth' or 'soil'. the conceptual logic is vividly physical: to be humiliated is to be metaphorically brought low, pressed down to the ground, and stripped of dignity or social height. this etymological journey from the tangible 'earth' to the abstract emotional state of being 'lowered' perfectly encapsulates the word's modern meaning of deep shame and loss of respect.
Analysis
Structure: humil (low) + i + ation (noun suffix)
humil (from latin humilis, meaning low, lowly, on the ground); i (a connecting vowel); ation (a noun-forming suffix from latin -atio, indicating an action or resulting state).
Examples
she suffered the humiliation of being criticized in front of her colleagues.
the team's defeat was a complete humiliation.
he could not bear the humiliation of asking for money.