infatuation
UK[ɪnˌfætʃ.uˈeɪ.ʃən]US[ɪnˌfætʃ.uˈeɪ.ʃən]
n
A very strong feeling of love or admiration for someone or something that is not real or reasonable, especially when it happens suddenly and lasts only a short time.
n
The object of such a feeling.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
fatu
ation
in
in, into, on, upon.
fatu
foolish, silly, insipid.
ation
Etymology
The word 'infatuation' originates from the Latin verb infatuare, meaning "to make a fool of." This verb itself is a composite of the intensive prefix in- and the adjective fatuus, which denotes foolishness or stupidity. The literal sense, therefore, is "to cause someone to enter a state of folly." Over time, the meaning specialized to describe a passionate but foolish love or admiration, one that clouds judgment, much like a temporary madness. This semantic evolution perfectly captures the logic of the original morphemes: being "made foolish" by a sudden, overpowering attraction.
Analysis
Structure: in + fatu + ation
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "in, into, on, upon." In this context, it functions as an intensifier, implying a state of being.
- fatu: From Latin fatuus, meaning "foolish, silly, insipid." It serves as the core root conveying the sense of folly.
- ation: Latin suffix -ationem, forming nouns of action or state. It indicates the condition or result of the action implied by the root.
Examples
His infatuation with his new coworker made it difficult for him to concentrate on his work.
What started as a teenage infatuation eventually grew into a deep and lasting love.
She realized her feelings for the celebrity were just a passing infatuation, not genuine affection.