immortality
UK[ˌɪmɔːˈtæləti]US[ˌɪmɔːrˈtæləti]
n
The state of being able to live or last forever; the condition of never dying or decaying.
n
Enduring fame; lasting remembrance.
Morpheme Breakdown
im
mortal
ity
im
not
mortal
subject to death
ity
state or quality
Etymology
The word 'immortality' is a layered construct built upon the fundamental human concept of death. Its core is the Latin root 'mors' (death), which gave rise to 'mortalis', meaning "subject to death". The addition of the negative prefix 'im-' (a variant of 'in-') directly reverses this meaning to "not subject to death". Finally, the abstract noun suffix '-ity' transforms this concept into the state or condition itself. Thus, the term elegantly progresses from the concrete reality of death ('mortal') to its logical negation ('immortal'), culminating in the abstract philosophical quality of 'immortality', denoting either eternal life or enduring legacy.
Analysis
Structure: im (not) + mortal (subject to death) + ity (state or quality)
- im: A prefix of Latin origin, a form of 'in-' meaning "not" or "without".
- mortal: From Latin 'mortalis', meaning "subject to death", derived from 'mors' (death).
- ity: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin ('-itas'), indicating a state, condition, or quality.
Examples
The ancient alchemists sought the elixir of life in a quest for physical immortality.
Many believe that great artists achieve a form of immortality through their timeless works.
In the myth, the gods granted the hero immortality but not eternal youth.