inevitability
UK[ɪnˌevɪtəˈbɪləti]US[ɪnˌevɪtəˈbɪləti]
n
The quality or condition of being certain to happen; unavoidability.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
evit
ability
in
not
evit
avoid
ability
quality of
Etymology
The word "inevitability" is built upon the core concept of being unable to be avoided. Its journey begins with the Latin verb vitare, meaning "to shun or avoid," combined with the prefix e- (out) to form evitare. The negative prefix in- (not) was added to create the Late Latin inevitabilis, meaning "unavoidable." This adjective passed into English as "inevitable." Finally, the abstract noun-forming suffix "-ity," derived from Latin -itas, was appended to "inevitable," creating "inevitability" to express the state or quality of being certain to occur, thus completing the logical path from the literal action of shunning to the modern philosophical concept of inescapable fate.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + evit (avoid) + ability (quality of)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "not".
- evit: Derived from Latin evitare (to avoid), from e- (out) + vitare (to shun). It is a direct substring of the modern spelling.
- ability: From Latin -abilitas, a suffix forming nouns denoting a quality, state, or condition.
Examples
The eventual decline of the empire was seen as an inevitability by historians.
She accepted the inevitability of change with a calm resolve.
There is a certain inevitability about their team winning the championship again.