introduction
UK[ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃn]US[ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃn]
n
The act of bringing something into use or existence for the first time.
n
The act of making one person formally known to another, in which each is told the other's name.
n
A thing, such as a book, course, or lecture, that explains the basic facts about a subject.
n
A short section at the beginning of a book, report, or speech that gives a general idea of what is to follow.
Morpheme Breakdown
intro
duct
ion
intro
inward
duct
lead
ion
action/state
Etymology
The word 'introduction' has a clear and logical journey from Latin to English. It originates from the Latin verb 'introducere', which is a compound of the prefix 'intro-' ('to the inside') and the verb 'ducere' ('to lead'). The literal meaning was therefore 'to lead inside' or 'to bring in'. This concrete sense evolved in English to describe the abstract action of leading something, such as a new concept or a person, into a place or situation for the first time. The suffix '-ion' was added to form the noun describing this act, completing the transition from the physical action of leading inward to the modern meanings of formal presentation or initial explanation.
Analysis
Structure: intro (inward) + duct (lead) + ion (action/state)
- intro: Latin origin, from the prefix 'intro-' meaning 'to the inside, inward'. It functions as a directional prefix in this word.
- duct: Latin origin, from the root 'ducere' meaning 'to lead'. It functions as the core verbal root.
- ion: Latin origin, a suffix forming nouns of action or state. It functions as a nominalizer, turning the verb concept into a noun.
Examples
The introduction of new technology has revolutionized the industry.
May I make an introduction? This is my colleague, Dr. Evans.
The book's introduction provides a helpful overview of the author's main arguments.