levitation
UK[ˌlev.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən]US[ˌlev.əˈteɪ.ʃən]
n
The act of rising or floating in the air, seemingly without physical support.
n
The illusion or claimed supernatural ability of making a person or object rise into the air.
Morpheme Breakdown
levit
ation
levit
light, rise
ation
action or state
Etymology
The word 'levitation' is built on the Latin foundation of levis, meaning "light in weight." This root descends from the Proto-Indo-European stem legʷʰ-, which carried the sense of being light or nimble. The suffix '-ation' was attached to form a noun describing the process or state of becoming light. Thus, the literal construction "the process of making light" evolved into the modern abstract meaning of rising or floating in defiance of gravity, whether as a physical phenomenon, a stage illusion, or a paranormal concept.
Analysis
Structure: levit (light, rise) + ation (action or state)
- levit: From Latin levitas (lightness), from levis (light in weight). It functions as the core root conveying the sense of lightness or rising.
- ation: A suffix of Latin origin (-ationem), forming nouns indicating an action, process, or resulting state.
Examples
The magician's most famous trick was the levitation of his assistant above the stage.
In meditation, some practitioners report a sensation of spiritual levitation.
Scientists explored acoustic levitation as a method to handle materials without physical contact.