indignity
UK[ɪnˈdɪɡnəti]US[ɪnˈdɪɡnəti]
n
treatment or circumstances that cause one to feel shame or to lose one's dignity.
n
an act or event that offends against a person's dignity or self-respect.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
dign
ity
in
not
dign
worthy
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'indignity' originates from the latin 'indignitas', which itself is formed from the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') and the root 'dignus' (meaning 'worthy'). the core concept is a state of being unworthy or lacking in worthiness. this literal sense evolved through old french 'indignité' into middle english, where it came to specifically denote treatment or an action that is beneath one's proper worth, thereby causing a loss of dignity or honor. the semantic journey thus moves from the abstract condition of unworthiness to the concrete experience of insulting or humiliating treatment.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + dign (worthy) + ity (noun suffix)
in- (latin, prefix meaning 'not'); dign (latin root from 'dignus', meaning 'worthy'); -ity (latin, noun-forming suffix indicating state or condition).
Examples
he suffered the indignity of being searched in public.
forcing the prisoners to beg for food was a great indignity.
she felt the indignity of having her work criticized in front of her colleagues.