internship
UK[ˈɪntɜːnʃɪp]US[ˈɪntɜːrnʃɪp]
n
A period of time during which a student or new graduate gets practical experience in a job, often for little or no pay.
Morpheme Breakdown
intern
ship
intern
ship
Etymology
The word 'internship' is a modern American English compound. Its first element, 'intern', originates from the Latin internus, meaning "inward" or "internal," which evolved through French interne to denote a resident assistant or advanced student within an institution, particularly in medicine. The suffix '-ship', of Germanic origin, is a prolific English suffix denoting a state, condition, or office, as seen in words like 'friendship' and 'hardship'. Therefore, the literal construction "state of being an intern" logically captures the modern meaning: a defined period or condition of supervised practical training within a professional field.
Analysis
Structure: intern + ship
- intern: From Latin internus (inward, internal). In this word, it functions as the core noun meaning a student or trainee working within an organization.
- ship: From Old English -scipe (state, condition, office). In this word, it functions as a noun-forming suffix indicating a state, condition, or period of being.
Examples
She secured a summer internship at a leading engineering firm.
The internship provided him with invaluable hands-on experience in journalism.
Many degree programs require students to complete a professional internship.